Rebecca Meder finished sixth in her second final of the World Short Course Championships before breaking her second African record of the day, just a few races later, in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday, 12 December 2024. Photo: World Aquatics

Rebecca Meder finished sixth in her second final of the World Short Course Championships before breaking her second African record of the day, just a few races later, in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday, 12 December 2024.

The 22-year-old produced a personal best time of 1:03.93 for sixth place in the 100m breaststroke final, just four hundredths of a second off SA breaststroke queen Tatjana Smith’s continental record. The race was won by China’s Qianting Tang who finished two hundredths of a second off the world record in 1:02.38.

Around half an hour after her breaststroke final, Meder was back in the pool for the 100m individual medley semifinals. Earlier in the day, she had broken her own continental record, finishing third in her 100m IM heat in a time of 58.44 seconds.

She then swam an impressively quick 57.69 seconds in the seminal to take a further three quarters of a second off her previous mark, finishing second only to the swimmer in the lane next to hers, American Gretchen Walsh, who set a new world record of 55.71 seconds.

That sees Meder successfully making it through to her third final from the three events she has contested at these championships so far. The New Zealand-based star said she expected the world record from Walsh.

“Swimming against Gretchen, I knew she would break the world record,” she said. “She’s just in a league of her own, so every single time I get the opportunity to get next to her or Kate Douglass.”

“It’s a chance for me to get as close to them as possible, because then I’m going to be dipping into those times that I never thought I would be able to achieve right now.”

Rebecca Meder

“Those girls are the ones I’m going to be racing in LA in 2028 when [the Olympics is] in their home country so, it’s preparing me now for that,” added the elated Meder.

Other South African women in action on Thursday were Jessica Thompson, who was 21st overall in the 50m backstroke after finishing eighth in her heat in 27.10 seconds, and the SA 4x200m freestyle relay team of Hannah Robertson, Hannah Pearse, Stephanie Houtman and Milla Drakopoulos, who finished 10th overall in 8:06.02, missing out on 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

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: Rebecca Meder finished sixth in her second final of the World Short Course Championships before breaking her second African record of the day, just a few races later, in Budapest, Hungary, on Thursday, 12 December 2024. Photo: World Aquatics

Photo 2 Caption: Meder says she relishes each opportunity race against the USA’s Gretchen Walsh (pictured) and Kate Douglass, her likely LA 2028 Olympic competition.

Please Rate this Post

0 ratings, 0 votes0 ratings, 0 votes (0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
You need to be a registered member to rate this.
Loading...

About the Author:

gsport Contributor

gsport Contributor

This account is used to publish material provided to gsport by various third parties. While gsport ensures best endeavours to ensure that contributors have standing and that their contributions are relevant and legitimate, gsport's standard limitations in respect of third-party content apply. gsport.co.za/terms/

New Report

Close