Publications
Partners
South African swimmer Tatjana Schoenmaker was not disappointed after settling for silver in an entertaining 100m breaststroke final at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday.
Heading into the race, all eyes were on countrywoman Lara van Niekerk as the 19-year-old produced a stunning finish to clinch gold for South Africa.
Swimming in lane 5, Schoenmaker turned second and tried to catch up with Van Niekerk but was nearly a body length behind the SA teen.
Van Niekerk was 1.21 seconds ahead of Schoenmaker, who touched the wall in 1:06.68 to grab silver and accompany her 200m breaststroke gold in Birmingham.
Schoenmaker had nothing but praise for her fellow breaststroker and became emotional during the South African national anthem alongside Van Niekerk.
"I'm very happy, I came here just to give my best today. It obviously wasn't my best time, but I couldn't give anything more," said Schoenmaker after her race.
"I just wanted to take in the experience at this Commonwealth Games, and I think I did. There's a sign that says: 'Sports is only the beginning' and that is, for me, the important part... cheering on the other South Africans like she (Lara) did. She just smashed it."
READ | Van Niekerk inspired by Schoenmaker, left speechless after Commonwealth gold
South Africa has won 11 medals at the Sandwell Aquatic Centre, with the final day in the pool on Wednesday.
Schoenmaker, who ends her 2022 Commonwealth Games with gold and silver, says she could only be proud and insists she's just happy to see the South African flag fly high.
"It's weird being this senior obviously, four years ago, I was a junior. But it's so nice to stand on a podium and seeing all the juniors taking home the medals," said Schoenmaker.
"It's just a privilege to stand with them and to share the moment with them. Hopefully, it's still a lot more to come, I don't know how long I'll be on the podium, but as long as they stay on, I'm fine.
"I think we just want to represent South Africa and we want our country to be on the top, it doesn't really matter who it is. We just try to keep our country's name high."
Schoenmaker, who chose not to compete at the FINA World Championships last month, made her first international appearance since her Tokyo Olympics heroics, where she entered the history books with a world record.
Despite the expectation of defending her 100m breaststroke Commonwealth title, Schoenmaker admits these Games had been a difficult challenge.
"It has been tough, I won't lie. Mentally this whole Games, I've been in my head. You'd believe that coming from the Olympics, you'd have so much confidence and belief in yourself," said Schoenmaker.
"This is one of the galas I was so challenged in, I didn't believe myself and struggled with that. But it's a mental game and that's where I've been challenged by God and shows you, I just had to have faith and He did the rest.
"For me, to not have the times that I wanted and still walk away with a silver medal, I could not explain His goodness."
