World University Games, Day 3 Finals: Pieter Coetze Becomes Eighth Man Ever Under 52 in 100 Backstroke
The first three days of the World University Games have seen Pieter Coetze rocket into star status. After clocking 47.88 leading off his country’s 400 freestyle relay Thursday, he dropped his best time and African record by four tenths in Friday’s 100 backstroke semifinals. Now, Coetze has secured gold in his signature event while becoming the eighth-fastest man in history in the event.
Coetze flipped with a slight lead over American Will Modglin at the halfway point, his mark of 25.19 only five hundredths outside world-record pace, and then he accelerated down the stretch with a 26.80 length. His final time was 51.99, the fastest time in the world this year and quicker than the 52.00 posted by Thomas Ceccon to win Olympic gold in the event in Paris.
He has knocked almost six tenths off his pre-meet best time (52.58) and more than that from the existing FISU Games record, the 52.60 clocked by Ryosuke Irie in 2009. Coetze now becomes a serious gold-medal favorite in the event heading into the World Championships.
Meanwhile, a pair of Americans joined Coetze on the podium with breakthrough swims of their own. Modglin earned silver in 52.54, two tenths quicker than his previous best time from the semifinals, while Daniel Diehl secured bronze in 52.94. No American man had broken 53 entering the year, and now both swimmers are ahead of the 53.00 that Tommy Janton used to win the event at U.S. Nationals. The two rank ninth and 13th in the world this year, respectively.
Saturday’s finals session also included the medal rounds of the women’s 100 freestyle, women’s 50 breaststroke, men’s 200 freestyle, women’s 800 freestyle, men’s 200 IM and mixed 400 medley relay, as well as semifinals in the women’s 100 backstroke, men’s 200 butterfly and men’s 200 breaststroke.
Women’s 100 Freestyle Final
Women’s 100 Backstroke Semifinals
Men’s 200 Butterfly Semifinals
Women’s 50 Breaststroke Final
Men’s 200 Freestyle Final
Men’s 200 Breaststroke Semifinals
Women’s 800 Freestyle Final
Men’s 200 IM Final
Mixed 400 Medley Relay Final
