History for Schoenmaker, Corbett in Tokyo pool
South Africa has two swimmers in an Olympic final for the first time since Sydney in 2000.
Wednesday saw both Kaylene Corbett and Tatjana Schoenmaker qualify for the final of the 200m breaststroke in Tokyo.
This is the first time two swimmers from South Africa will race in a final since Penny Heyns and Sarah Poewe competed in the 100m breaststroke in the Olympic Games in Sydney.
Well done girls!! First time RSA has 2 swimmers in any Olympic Final since 2000 …. Definitely in the case of the ladies 💪 Congrats coach Rocco 😉 pic.twitter.com/SUjfUeC1JE
— Penny Heyns (@pennyheyns) July 29, 2021
Schoenmaker and Corbett are training partners at the University of Pretoria.
Swimming first, Corbett set a personal best on her Olympic debut.
She won her 200m breaststroke heat in a personal best of 2:22.48 - shaving nearly 1.70 off her previous best.
Schoenmaker then clocked the second fastest 200m breaststroke time ever in her heat.
She only missed a world record by a fingertip, touching in 2:19.16, a new Olympic mark and just shy of the 2:19.11 set by Denmark's Rikke Moller Pedersen in 2013.
Schoenmaker has already won a silver medal for finishing second in the 100m breaststroke on Tuesday.
The final is due to take place on Friday.