Pieter Coetze celebrates winning the men's 200m backstroke at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing Team SA's ninth medal of the meet. Photo: AFP
Pieter Coetze continued to establish himself as the face of Team South Africa's Commonwealth Games campaign on Sunday night, powering to a second gold medal in Glasgow as the national team prepared to broaden its medal assault with the start of the athletics programme on Monday.
Having begun the day with six medals, all from swimming, Team SA finished with nine after Coetze's stunning victory in the men's 200m backstroke was complemented by silver for Aimee Canny in the women's 100m breaststroke and bronze for Olivia Nel in the women's 100m backstroke.
Coetze once again rewrote the Commonwealth Games record books, clocking a superb 1:54.22 to eclipse the previous mark and claim victory by more than two seconds. England's Oliver Morgan settled for silver in 1:56.44, with compatriot Luke Greenbank taking bronze.
The reigning world 100m backstroke champion was on world-record pace through the opening half of the race before fading slightly over the closing stages, though he still produced one of the outstanding performances of the Games.
