Erin Gallagher booked a place in her second final of the championships, finishing third in her 50m butterfly semifinal in 25.86 seconds to qualify sixth fastest for Saturday night’s final, at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha on Friday night, 16 February, 2024.
“It’s really awesome… Looking back at my past world champs, to make two finals is honestly incredible, and I’m just so blessed and grateful to God!”
SA Swim Champion, Erin Gallagher
“I could definitely feel I was a little more tense than this morning. It kind of happened in slow motion but also at a million miles an hour at the same time. So I think tomorrow night the plan is to just go in as relaxed as possible and try and execute my race a little bit better,” said Gallagher.
“I know there are a few things I could improve on tonight but luckily they happened in a semifinal and hopefully I can improve on them for tomorrow night’s race.”
Meanwhile, making her first appearance in a World Championships semifinal was Hannah Pearse. The 20-year-old finished fifth in her morning heat of the 200m backstroke in 2:13.26 to reach the semifinal and then swam 2:13.29 to finish in eighth place.
World Aquatics Championships action continues on Saturday with Gallagher and Emma Chelius scheduled to compete in the 50m freestyle heats, Lara van Niekerk in the 50m breaststroke and Team South Africa will also field a team in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay heats.
Photo Caption: Erin Gallagher is elated to have qualified for her second final of the World Aquatics Championships on Thursday evening, and will join Emma Chelius, Lara van Niekerk and Team South Africa in the day’s action in the UAE on Saturday. Photo: Anton Geyser/SA Sports Images
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