2025 World Championships
- July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
- Singapore, Singapore
- World Aquatics Championships Arena
- LCM (50m)
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The semi-finals of the men’s 50m backstroke unfolded tonight in Singapore, with 21-year-old Pieter Coetze producing yet another personal best and big-time record.
The South African stopped the clock at a mighty 24.32 to claim the top time out of the first semi-final and the 3rd-fastest time overall.
Entering this competition, Coetze’s lifetime best checked in at the 24.36 he notched during the 2023 South African National Championships.
The former South African and African continental record rested at the 24.34 Gerhard Zandberg established during the supersuited 2009 World Championships.
With his outing tonight, Coetze has successfully completed his trifecta of backstroke records.
Earlier in the competition, the TUKS student ripped a big-time African record of 51.85 to take gold in the 100m backstroke and followed that up with a 1:53.26 stunner to reap silver behind Hungary’s Hubert Kos in the 200m back.
This is after Coetze already competed at the World University Games just a few weeks ago. There in Germany, Coetze topped both the 50m back and 100m back podiums.
Of note, Kos broke the Hungarian national record with a time of 24.50 to earn the 5th seed, tied with Greece’s Apostolos Christou.
Additionally, Ksawery Masiuk clocked a new Polish record of 24.41 to claim the 4th seeded for tomorrow evening’s main event.
