Silver medalist in the distance three years ago in Tokyo, Tatjana Smith finally touches gold. In the final of the 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Olympics, Monday July 29 at La Défense Arena, the South African snatched victory in the last five meters. The swimmer succeeded in the first half of her crazy challenge of a double in the 100m/200m.
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She had set the best time in the semi-finals on Sunday. This Monday, July 29, it was in the favorite’s costume that Tatjana Smith – who was known, before her marriage, as Tatjana Schoenmaker – presented herself in the Arena La Défense for the final of the 100m breaststroke.
But the South African had strong competition in the water, starting with the American Lilly King, record holder over the distance, as well as the Chinese Quianting Tang. To go for the Olympic title in these JO 2024Smith knew she was going to have to be very strong.
And for a very long time, it seemed that, like in Tokyo in 2021, the first place would escape her. The fault was a cannon start to the race by Tang. Launched like a bullet, the Chinese was well in the lead at the 50 meters and did not seem to weaken on the return trip.
And yet, in the last 15 meters, Tatjana Smith nibbled away at her deficit centimeter by centimeter. It was in the final meters before the touchline that the 27-year-old swimmer overtook Quianting Tang to take the gold (1’05”28), ahead of the Chinese (1’05”54) and the Irish Mona McSharry (1’05”59). King, for her part, finished off the podium.
First big performance for Smith, silver in the 100m breaststroke in Tokyo and gold this time in Paris. The South African will be able to turn to her next objective: retain his crown in the 200m breaststroke and therefore sign a double.
To consultOlympic Games Results