Schoenmaker could be Tokyo surprise, says Heyns
SOUTH African swimming legend Penny Heyns is backing current local sensation Tatjana Schoenmaker to “spoil the American party” at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Schoenmaker is looking to emulate Heyns’ amazing achievements of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games when she won the both the 100m and 200m breaststroke gold medals.
Heyns remains the only female breaststroke swimmer to ever achieve the unique Olympic double.
The Americans, though, will be willing on 24-year-old Lilly King in Japan.
King is the current 100m breaststroke OIympic champion and world record holder and is being widely tipped to do the “double” back home.
“I really do hope that Tatjana spoils the American party,” Heyns said exclusively on the weekly IOL Sport Show.
“In an interview I did a while back they almost forgot that Tokyo hasn't happened yet and they told me Lilly has also done the double.
“I said, 'Sorry, I think you're getting ahead of yourself. We still have to wait and see’. I don't think she will be alone in the 200 metres. She will have some stiff competition.”
Schoenmaker will certainly be among the competitors pushing King all the way in Tokyo.
The Commonwealth Games double gold medallist was in brilliant form at the recent SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha.
She chalked up three national and Africa records, including posting the second fastest time globally of one minute 05.74 seconds in the 100m breaststroke, which is just 0.09 seconds slower than King.
Schoenmaker, though, does boast the fastest 200m time after clocking 2:20.17 in the Newton Park pool.
“I think Tatjana's swims were amazing this past week. I am really pleased to see she is getting that upfront speed. I think she could possibly surprise herself in the 100m as well. If she can keep going at the rate she is at the moment, she can achieve some amazing things,” Heyns said.
Heyns, who also won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, is thrilled that Schoenmaker will accompanied by fellow South African Kaylene Corbett in Tokyo, and that they will be competing in her famed discipline.
It will be the first time South Africa has two swimmers competing in the same event since Heyns and Sarah Poewe swam the breaststroke together in Australia.
Heyns and Julia Russell also competed together in Atlanta 21 years ago.
“I am also thrilled that we not only going to see Tatjana, but two South Africans swimming in the same event at the Olympics. That hasn't happened since 2000.
“So, once again, the only time we've had two swimmers representing South Africa in the same discipline has always been breaststrokers.
“There is definitely something in the water when it comes to breaststroke in this country.
“Fortunately, I will be there that I am the chairperson of the Fina committee, so I will actually be in Tokyo, which is a great honour, especially with Tatjana doing as well as she is.
“For me, the thrill is that it will be breaststroker that will be up on the podium if I'm not getting ahead of myself.”