Saturday, 25 June 2022 – Lara van Niekerk ensured South Africa’s proud record in the World Championships pool continued by bagging a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke on Saturday night. Competing in her first major event at senior level, the 19-year-old came up against world record-holder Benedetta Pilato and 2013 world champion Ruta Meilutyte in the final. Van Niekerk swam 29.90 to take the bronze, with Meilutyte taking gold for Lithuania in 29.70 and Pinato the silver for Italy in 29.80. Van Niekerk’s perfor...Read More
25 June 2022 – Lara van Niekerk stormed to victory in her 50m breaststroke semi-final in Budapest on Friday night to book a spot in her first ever World Championships final. The 19-year-old once again dipped under 30 seconds, winning her semi-final in 29.99. With that she qualified third fastest for the final. The only swimmers quicker on the night were Italian world record holder Benedetta Pilato, who won the other semi-final in 29.83, and former world record holder Ruta Meilutyte who finished second in 29.97. “I knew I ...Read More
Friday, 24 June 2022 – SA’s Lara van Niekerk came within five hundredths of a second of her own African record on her way to victory in her 50m breaststroke heats at the Swimming World Championships in Budapest on Friday. The 19-year-old powered to victory in a time of 29.77 to book her spot in Friday night’s semi-finals as the fastest qualifier. The Pretoria swimmer, who set the African record of 29.72 at the SA National Championships in April, was one of just two swimmers to dip under 30 seconds in the heats. &...Read More