It was a busy night for South Africa’s standout performer at the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest, Rebecca Meder, on Friday, lining up in the finals of two events in Budapest, Hungary, on Friday, 13 December, 2024.
Meder’s first final of the evening was the 200m breaststroke, an event which is quickly becoming a favourite for the medley swimmer.
The 22-year-old had earlier booked her spot in the final by finishing second in her morning heat in a time of 2:18.79 to progress as the fourth-fastest qualifier. She then went even quicker in the evening, finishing fifth in 2:18.26 to edge even closer to Tatjana Smith’s African record of 2:18.02.
The race was won by the American who beat Smith to Olympic gold in the 200m breaststroke in August, Kate Douglass, who powered to a new world record with a speedy 2:12.50.
Meder’s second final of the night, just over an hour later, saw another American shattering a record. This time it was Gretchen Walsh, who set her sixth individual world record of the meet so far and her second within half an hour, on her way to victory in an impressive 55.11 seconds.
Meder finished sixth in a time of 58.10, slightly off the 57.69-second African record she set in the semifinals on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Stephanie Houtman set a new African record in the 1500m freestyle after finishing in 16:09.12, a time that saw the Pretoria swimmer securing 19th place overall.
Other SA swimmers in action included Jaime Mote who was 38th overall in the women’s 100m butterfly after swimming 1:02.27 in the heats, and the South African quartet of Chris Smith, Kris Mihaylov, Caitlin de Lange and Jessica Thompson finished third in their heat of the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay in a time of 1:33.27 but didn’t make it through to the evening final.
Daily Wraps at the 2024 World Short Course Championships in Budapest, Hungary
10 December Meet Preview
11 December Day 1 Wrap
12 December Day 2 Wrap
13 December Day 3 Wrap
Women Participants in the South African Team
Cailtin de Lange (50, 100m freestyle)
Milla Drakopoulos (100m backstroke)
Stephanie Houtman (800, 1500m freestyle)
Rebecca Meder (100, 200m breaststroke, 100, 200m individual medley)
Jaime Mote (100m butterfly)
Hannah Pearse (200m backstroke)
Hannah Robertson (4x200m freestyle relay)
Jessica Thompson (50m butterfly, 50m backstroke)
Lara van Niekerk (50, 100m breaststroke)
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere for Swimming SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The star of Team SA at the World Short Course Championships, Rebecca Meder, edged closer to landmark milestones in two event finals in Budapest, Hungary, on Friday, 13 December 2024. Photo: World Aquatics
Photo 4 Caption: Stephanie Houtman set a new African record in the 1500m freestyle in a time of 16:09.12, the Pretoria swimmer securing 19th place overall. Photo: Swimming SA
Photo 4 Caption: Jaime Mote came in 38th overall in the women’s 100m butterfly, after swimming 1:02.27 in the heats. Photo: Swimming SA
Photo 4 Caption: Chris Smith, Kris Mihaylov, Caitlin de Lange and Jessica Thompson finished third in their heat of the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay in a time of 1:33.27 but didn’t make it through to the evening final. Photo: Swimming SA
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