Team SA’s Lara van Niekerk stormed to a Commonwealth Games record in the women’s 50m breaststroke heats in Birmingham on Friday, 29 July 2022.
Lara van Niekerk swims a Games Record in heat 5 of the 50m breaststroke @birminghamcg22 @TeamSA2024 @ThabisoMosia @gsport4girls pic.twitter.com/12XJyPksGp
— Manfred Seidler (@sportmansa) July 29, 2022
She won her heat by touching the wall in a time of 29.82 with compatriot Tatjana Schoenmaker coming in second, with a time of 30.76.
Kara Hanlon came in third place in the final heat of the women’s 50m Breaststroke.
🏊🏼 RECORD 🏊🏼
Congratulations to @TeamSA2024 swimmer Lara Van Niekerk who set a new Commonwealth Games record in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke heats on Friday 🇿🇦👏🏽#SABCSportSwimming #B2022 pic.twitter.com/hBcHgxB8ze
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 29, 2022
Speaking after the heat, the 19-year-old said “I was stressed before the race and my adrenalin was pumping. But during the race I felt like I was gliding through the water. Then I touched the wall and saw my time – I’m just so happy.”
"I was stressed before the race and my adrenalin was pumping. But during the race I felt like I was gliding through the water. Then I touched the wall and saw my time – I'm just so happy." Lara van Niekerk after her Games record 29.82 in the 50m breaststroke heats @birminghamcg22 pic.twitter.com/BTyMjdR6j9
— Team South Africa (@TeamSA2024) July 29, 2022
With this result the South African duo also qualify for the semi-finals of the 50m breaststroke heat that will take place later on the same day.
🇿🇦South Africa's Lara van Niekerk swam the first ever sub-30 in the 50m breaststroke to win her heat and qualify for the semifinals along with Tatjana Schoenmaker at the Commonwealth Games.#GTVSports #Birmingham2022 pic.twitter.com/fJymeXHhzG
— GTV SPORTS+ (@mygtvsports) July 29, 2022
Team South Africa’s Results from Day 1 at the Commonwealth Games:
Women’s 200m freestyle, heats:
Aimee Canny 3rd in her heat in 2:00.10. She placed 9th overall and is first reserve for the final.
Michaela Pulford 3rd in her heat in 2:01.21. She placed 12th overall and misses the final
Women’s 50m breaststroke, heats:
Lara van Niekerk won her heat in a Games record 29.82
Tatjana Schoenmaker 2nd in 30.76.
Kaylene Corbett finished 2nd in her heat in 31.07.
Women’s 400m IM, heats:
Rebecca Meder 5th in her heat in 4:51.65 for 9th overall. She is first reserve for the final
Women’s 100m butterfly, heats:
Erin Gallagher 4th in her heat in 59.29.
Dune Coetzee 4th in her heat in 1:00.19
Trinity Hearne 7th in her heat in 1:00.42.
All three progressed to the semi-finals
Photo 1 Caption: Team SA’s Lara van Niekerk won her women’s 50m breaststroke heat in a Games record time of 29.82 at the 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham. Photo : Team South Africa (Twitter)




