Pieter Coetze Sets Men’s 50m Backstroke Short-Course World Record
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
South African swimmer Pieter Coetze created history on Friday by setting a new world record in the men’s 50-metre backstroke short-course event at a World Aquatics World Cup meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The 22-year-old clocked an impressive 22.09 seconds, narrowly surpassing the previous world record of 22.11 seconds set by Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov in Kazan in 2022.
The achievement marks Coetze’s first individual world record and adds another milestone to his growing swimming career. He is already the world champion in the 100m backstroke and came close to breaking the world record in the event during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July 2026.
Coetze Surpasses Kolesnikov’s Previous Record
Kolesnikov, the former record-holder, also competed in Friday’s race but finished sixth with a time of 22.88 seconds. His compatriot Egor Kornev secured second place in 22.29 seconds after misjudging his finish.
Speaking after his record-breaking performance, Coetze said he initially struggled to realise what he had achieved when he saw his time displayed on the scoreboard.
The South African described the moment as extraordinary, explaining that it took a second for him to recognise that he had broken the world record.
Despite his achievement, Coetze said he would maintain the same approach to competition, noting that races at the highest level are often decided by very small margins.
He also highlighted the competitive nature of the event, pointing out that the previous world-record holder was among the swimmers in the race.
50m Backstroke Set for Olympic Debut in 2028
The men’s 50m backstroke is scheduled to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, adding further significance to performances in the discipline as swimmers prepare for future international competitions.
Meanwhile, Kornev continued his impressive showing in Tashkent by winning the men’s 100m freestyle final. He recorded 45.24 seconds, matching Australia’s Cameron McEvoy, despite dealing with a back injury.
McEvoy praised his rival after the race and suggested that Kornev could deliver an even faster performance in the coming months.
The results in Tashkent underline the close competition among elite swimmers as they continue to pursue record-breaking performances ahead of major international events.
