Coetzé qualified fastest for the final of the 200m event with a new African record in the semifinals. He went out hard in the final, turning first at both the 50m and 100m marks under world record pace, but was hunted down in the second half of the race by Olympic champion Hubert Kós.  He finished second in 1:53.36 seconds, just 0.17 of a second off the gold.

After the race, Coetzé said he was happy with his performance.

“Coming into this, I didn’t expect to go that fast. This has exceeded all my expectations, and it’s just a big honour to be in a race like that.”  France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard finished third in 1:54.62.

In the next race, the Corbett (26) reached the first turn in fifth place in the final of the 200m breaststroke, but she steadily worked her way up to fourth by the second and third. A final push saw her surging into medal contention, claiming a joint bronze medal with Belarusian Alina Zmushka in a time of 2:23.52.

‘Corbett’s first world championship medal’

Olympic champion Kate Douglass of the USA took the gold in a championship record time of 2:18.50, the second fastest time in history, with world record-holder Evgeniia Chikunova second in 2:19.96.

This is Corbett’s first world championship medal. “It’s been a hectic year, and it just feels like it came together when it should, so I’m just really, really stoked about it. I’m very, very happy,” she said.

“I just think that I gave everything I had, and I’m just really proud of myself with that performance.”

Later today, South Africa’s Erin Gallagher will participate in the 50m butterfly final after finishing second in the semi-final.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg