Commonwealth Games, Day Five Finals: Lara Van Niekerk Defends 50 Breast Title Over Sienna Toohey
Four years after nabbing Commonwealth Games gold medals in the 50 and 100 breaststroke, Lara Van Niekerk has returned to the top of the podium in the one-lap event. Van Niekerk earned the title defense Tuesday as she edged Australia’s Sienna Toohey by 0.11.
Van Niekerk recorded a time of 30.43, seven tenths behind the Games record she set in Birmingham in 2022. The fast-stroking South African pulled into the lead about halfway down the length and held off the charging Toohey at the finish.
The win marked the fourth gold medal for South Africa in swimming at these Games and first in the women’s competition. Previously, Pieter Coetze secured first place in the men’s 50 and 200 backstroke and Nathan Hendricks won the S13 100 freestyle. Additionally, Van Niekerk is one of only three South African women to ever win Commonwealth Games gold in swimming, joining Natalie du Toit and fellow breaststroke standout Tatjana (Schoenmaker) Smith.
Toohey, a 17-year-old Australian who previously won bronze in the 100 breast, secured silver in 30.54. The Australian team has won gold in every women’s event so far outside of breaststroke, but Toohey represents the best hope for her country in several years.
There was a tie for bronze between England’s Imogen Clark and Canada’s Sophie Angus, with both women clocking 30.86. Those two finished just ahead of Jamaica’s Sabrina Lyn, fifth in 30.95. Clark reached the podium for the second consecutive Commonwealth Games after taking silver in 2022.
