Lara van Niekerk Wins Team SA’s First Gold at Birmingham 2022

Lara van Niekerk has won Team SA’s first Gold medal at Birmingham 2022 in the Breaststroke final, setting a new Games Record time 29.73 seconds. 

Fellow South Africans Tatjana Schoenmaker finished fourth, and compatriot Kaylene Corbett came sixth. 

Van Niekerk has been in scintillating for at the Games, putting in three new consecutive Games records which ended in a huge charge as the best of three South Africans into the final.

Her first record came on Friday morning, when she touched to win in a time of 29.82.

Lara van Niekerk Smashes the 50m Breaststroke Record at Commonwealth Games

Then, this morning, the Pretoria swimmer finished in a time of 29.80 to qualify as the best of three South Africans for the race 50m Breaststroke final.

Another CWG Record for Lara van Niekerk

All the hard work is paying off for van Niekerk, who had a good build up to the Games with massive performances back home in South Africa during Nationals.

Lara van Niekerk Shines on Opening Day of National Champs

Photo 1 Caption: Lara van Niekerk sets a third consecutive Commonwealth Games Record to win the 50m breaststroke final  at Birmingham 2022 on Saturday, 30 July 2022. Photo: Team SA (Twitter)