Aimee Canny stormed to silver in the women’s 100m breaststroke and Olivia Nel claimed a South African record bronze in the 100m backstroke as South Africa’s women struck twice in one night at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday, 26 July 2026.
Canny, a recent convert to the stroke, led at the turn in 30.67 and held on to touch in 1:06.19, just 0.12 behind Scotland’s Angharad Evans, to claim her first senior international individual medal and join a South African breaststroke lineage that runs through Penny Heyns, Sarah Poewe, Tatjana Smith and Lara van Niekerk.
“I’m super happy with that!”
2026 Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist, Aimee Canny
The 100m breast is a new event for me and hopefully I can take the positives from the race and build on it for the future,” said Canny, with Kaylene Corbett sixth in 1:07.61 and Rebecca Meder seventh in 1:07.68.
Nel, the relay bronze anchor, turned fifth from lane two before powering home in 1:00.09, a national record, for her first individual Games podium. “I’m so excited, I feel quite emotional. That race was challenging for me, but I am so proud of myself. To achieve something for my family and for my country is just awesome,” said Nel.
At The Hydro, Team South Africa’s netballers rewrote their own history with a 96-42 dismantling of Tonga, the highest score by a South African side at a Commonwealth Games, surpassing the 92 they scored against Fiji at Gold Coast 2018.
Owethu Ngubane and Rolene Streutker excelled early in a 26-15 first quarter, Nicola Smith shrugged off a second quarter injury scare to return after the break, and Kamogelo Maseko combined with Ngubane for 21 goals in the final quarter. Coach Jenny van Dyk’s side rest on Monday before facing Northern Ireland at 15h00 SAST on Tuesday.
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Elsewhere, Erin Gallagher swam 57.94 to reach Monday night’s 100m butterfly final as fifth seed, with Duné Coetzee missing out, Caitlin de Lange advanced to the 100m freestyle final, and Naveen Daries and Zelme Daries placed 10th and 13th in the gymnastics all-around final.
On the greens, the tie-break finally fell South Africa’s way as Thabelo Muvhango and Jackie Janse van Rensburg stunned section leaders England 9-0, 3-4, 1-0 before completing a double over Malta 2-0, while Princess Schroeder and Keith Orrell claimed their first para mixed pairs win by beating New Zealand, also in a tie-break, and the women’s wheelchair 3×3 side fell 20-5 to Australia ahead of today’s decisive pool game against England.
Monday morning’s schedule belongs to the pool, where the women’s 50m backstroke heats bring Hannah Pearse, Jessica Thompson and Olivia Nel to the blocks before Meder, Corbett and defending champion Lara van Niekerk open the 50m breaststroke.
As the day moves into the afternoon the action spreads across the city, with Aviwe Ngoni, Asive Gilifile, Michelle Moganedi and Ongezwa Hagu facing England in the women’s wheelchair 3×3, Liezel Gouws and Sheryl James contesting the T38 100m heats at Scotstoun, and the weightlifters taking the platform through Johanni Taljaard in the 53kg and, later in the session, Anneke Spies-Burger in the 58kg.
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South Africa’s Women Open Their Glasgow 2026 Medal Account with Relay Bronze
The evening is the richest of the Games so far for South Africa’s women. Thandolwethu Mathiba opens the boxing campaign in the flyweight round of 16 against England’s Ruby White, Prudence Sekgodiso begins her 800m bid on the track, and Gouws and James return for the T38 100m final, subject to qualification.
Under the Tollcross lights, De Lange contests the 100m freestyle final and Gallagher the 100m butterfly final, before the night closes with the 50m backstroke semi-finals for Thompson, Nel and Pearse and the 50m breaststroke semi-finals for Van Niekerk, Corbett and Meder, all subject to progression.
Original Copy: Team SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Aimee Canny won silver in the women’s 100m breaststroke, her first senior international individual medal, at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday, 26 July 2026. Photo: Team SA
Photo 2 Caption: South Africa’s women’s wheelchair 3×3 side of Aviwe Ngoni, Asive Gilifile, Michelle Moganedi and Ongezwa Hagu fell to Australia in Pool A. Photo: Team SA
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