South African student stuns field to win 100m backstroke world title

Pieter Coetzé stormed to South Africa’s first medal of the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, capturing gold in the 100m backstroke with a sensational swim just 0.25 seconds shy of the world record.

Despite being only the third-fastest qualifier from the semifinals, the 21-year-old outpaced Olympic gold medallist Thomas Ceccon and France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard in a thrilling final stretch, touching the wall in a new African record time of 51.85 seconds.

Ceccon clocked 51.90 for silver, with Ndoye-Brouard settling for bronze in 51.92. Olympic 200m backstroke champion Hubert Kos placed fourth in 52.20.

“I always thought it would happen eventually,” Coetzé told reporters poolside. “In my mind, it was just a matter of time, but to do it this year is amazing.”

Reflecting later, he added: “It was awesome. The competition was very deep here, so there were eight guys who could have won it.

“The [World] University Games prepped me really well. The guys went fast there as well. But I’m over the moon. It was anyone’s game. I knew that going into it and to get away with the win is awesome.”

Just last week, Coetzé won gold and broke the FISU Record in the men’s 100m backstroke at the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games in Germany, the Olympics of university sport.

On breaking the continental record, the TUKS psychology student said that: “Every time I break [the African record], I’m really happy with it.”

“I can’t explain, but it was more about the win tonight than the time, so if I won with a second slower time, it would still be as good. I think in a final, you don’t really think about the time at all.”

Coetzé is not done yet, with the 50m and 200m backstroke races still ahead.

In earlier action, teammate Chris Smith booked his spot in the 50m breaststroke final.

The 19-year-old posted a time of 26.82 seconds in his heat before shaving it down to a personal best 26.77 in the semifinals, finishing second behind Koen de Groot (26.71) to qualify as the joint fifth-fastest for Wednesday’s final.

Aimee Canny also featured in the evening session. After placing third in her 200m freestyle heat in 1:57.53 to qualify for the semifinals, she could not quite match the pace later in the day, clocking 1:57.72 for sixth in her semi and 12th overall, missing out on the final.

South Africa’s schedule on Wednesday includes Smith in the 50m breaststroke final, Olivia Nel, who recently claimed four medals at the World University Games, in the 50m backstroke heats, Matt Sates in the 200m individual medley, and the national team in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.