Team SA started Tuesday with 11 medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games – with all coming in the pool at the Tollcross Internationals Swimming Centre. And the medals continued to arrive. Five more took the Team SA total to 16. Chad le Clos, who’d been part of the morning 4x100m mixed relay squad, earned a record-equalling 20th Games medal when the revised team swam to silver in the evening’s last event, despite him watching from the stands.
First, two silvers from para-swimmers Nathan Hendricks and Danicka Vyncke, in their respective S13 freestyle disciplines. Then. Aimee Canny, one of the Team SA standouts at these Games, producing a blistering second half to take the silver in the women’s 200m individual medley. Then there was gold in the women’s 50m breaststroke by defending champion Lara van Niekerk. And finally, silver in the mixed 4x100m relay which secured Le Clos’ 20th, joining Australia’s Emma McKeon as the most decorated Games athlete ever.
There was also a fourth Games record of the week for Pieter Coetze, this time in the men’s 100m backstroke as he attempts to close in on a full-house of golds in the backstroke.
The Team SA netballers meanwhile were impressive in staying unbeaten in three matches and dismantled Northern Ireland, ahead of their crunch games against Australia and England.
Here is how the day unfolded.
ATHLETICS
Men’s 100m, semi-finals: Gift Leotlela won his race in 10.02sec to advance to the final, Cheswill Johnson also reached the final after running a 10.05 and going through as a fastest non-automatic qualifier, while Bradley Nkoana was DQ’d.
Men’s 100m, final: Gift Leotlela pulled out a season’s best 9.91 in a final run in pouring rain, but it was only enough to secure 4th spot as gold went to Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme in 9.83, with a +1.3 tailwind. Cheswill Johnson clocked 10.13 for 8th position.
PARA LAWN BOWLS
Para Men’s Pairs B6-B8, Section A, Round 1: Team SA (Jarid James, Gareth Rees-Gibbs) lost to Scotland (Garry Brown, Stuart Sloan) 2-0, with set scores of 4-1, 6-3.
NETBALL
Pool A: Team SA cruised to a 78-30 win over Northern Ireland at The Hydro. It temporarily lifted them to the top of the pool, but Thursday’s match against England will decide their semi-final fate. Team SA have been impressive and are unbeaten in three matches, and were never stretched by Northern Ireland. They led 14-8 after the first quarter, 32-18 at halftime, 53-22 at the end of three quarters and 78-30 at the final whistle. Elmere van der Berg top-scored with 39 goals, followed by Rolene Streutker (25), while Kamogelo Maseko (11) and Sammy Ngubane (2) all contributed.
SWIMMING
Men’s 50m butterfly, heats: Chad le Clos was the first swimmer in the water in the butterfly heats – and the first out too. He won his heat in 23.92 to qualify for the semi-finals as 11th fastest. Qualifying for the next round, rather than times, is the sole matter of importance. Calvyn Justus was 2nd in his heat in 3.44 to qualify for the semi-final in 3rd overall, while Jarden Eaton was 6th in the same heat in 24.19 and progressed to the semi-finals in 15th.
Men’s 50m butterfly, semi-finals: All of Calvyn Justus, Chad le Clos and Jarden Eaton lined up in the second semi-final. The 50m is a lottery at the best of times, but it was Justus who fared best, a tie for 2nd in 23.49. Le Clos was 6th in 23.65 and Eaton 8th in 23.99. Justus qualified for the final as 5th fastest, with Le Clos (11th) and Eaton (14th) missing out.
Men’s 100m backstroke, heats: Pieter Coetze won his heat in 54.12 and progresses to the semi-finals as 3rd fastest on the timesheets, while Ruard van Renen finished 2nd in his heat in 54.14 and qualified as 4th quickest.
Men’s 100m backstroke, semi-finals: Both Ruard van Renen (53.41) and Pieter Coetze (52.20) to qualify for the final, looking to repeat their 50m heroics when they both stood on the podium. Coetze produced another dominant display, asserting his superiority after 25m and just pulling further ahead as he had 0.89sec to spare at the finish. His time was yet another Commonwealth Games record.
Women’s 50m freestyle, heats: Caitlin de Lange looked good when clocking 25.05 to finish 2nd in her heat and qualify for the semi-final as 5th fastest. Jessica Thompson was 4th in the same heat in 25.39 and also swims in the evening, as 8th fastest qualifier. Olivia Nel touched the wall in 3rd in her heat in 25.54 to qualify for the semi-finals in 9th position but later scratched from the event to concentrate on the backstroke final.
Women’s 50m freestyle, semi-finals: Jessica Thompson pulled out a fine 24.92 performance to take 2nd place in her race, which qualified her 5th fastest for the final. Caitlin de Lange also went through, finishing 3rd in the second semi-final in 24.82 for 4th overall heading into the final.
Women’s 50m backstroke, final: Olivia Nel went under 58sec for only the second time in her career when she clocked 27.95, which secured her 5th place in another one-lap frenzied final.
Women’s 800m freestyle, slowest heat 2: Dune Coetzee won her race in 8:44.23 by 10 seconds in dominant manner. She now awaits the results of the fastest heat later in the programme.
Women’s 200m IM, heats: Aimee Canny finished 2nd in her heat in 2:10.99 to qualify impressively for the final as 2nd fastest. Rebecca Meder was 3rd in her heat in 2:12.58 and also went through into the finals as 7th quickest.
SILVER! Women’s 200m IM, final: Aimee Canny produced a stunning second half of the race to snatch the silver medal, and even had gold in her grasp down the final freestyle leg. Canny’s time was 2:09.37, with Australian Jenna Forrester touching in 2:09.24. Rebecca Meder finished 7th in 2:11.23.
GOLD! Women’s 50m breaststroke, final: Lara van Niekerk successfully defended her title from Birmingham with this win coming after four difficult years. She dug deep all the way down the lane to win in 30.43, a gold medal that she conceded “means more than the one four years ago because of the difficulties I’ve had to overcome.” Rebecca Meder finished 8th in 31.81.
Mixed 4x100m medley, heat: Team SA (Hannah Pearse, Chris Smith, Chad le Clos and Georgia Nel) finished 3rd in their heat in 3:52.97 to qualify for the final as 5th fastest and strong medal candidates.
SILVER! Mixed 4x100m medley, final: Team SA surged to a sensational silver in an African record 3:42.61 after a thrilling race. Pieter Coetzee (backstroke) started off and gave Team SA an advantage and then Michael Houlie turned on the breaststroke after-burner to give Team SA a healthy halfway lead. Then Erin Gallagher (butterfly) and Aimee Canny (freestyle) withstood the onslaught of male swimmers doing the chasing, and only Australia got past.
PARA SWIMMING
Women’s S13 50m freestyle, heats: Danika Vyncke broke another African record when finishing 2nd in her race in 28.72 to qualify 2nd fastest for the final. Alani Ferreira was 5th in her race in 31.44 and is first reserve for the final.
SILVER! Women’s S13 50m freestyle, final: Danika Vyncke went even quicker in the final with yet another African record when taking 2nd in 28.41 and she was visibly moved by the enormity of her achievement immediately after the race.
Men’s S13 50m freestyle, heats: Nathan Hendricks won is heat in 25.38 to qualify 3rd fastest for the final. The top four swimmers were covered by 0.40 sec.
SILVER! Men’s S13 50m freestyle, final: Nathan Hendricks earned his second medal of the Games when he claimed the silver medal behind home favourite Stephen Clegg. Hendricks touched in 24.84, beaten by 0.11 by the Scot.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Men’s 88kg: William Swart was handed a DNF after all three of his 182kg attempts in the clean & jerk were unsuccessful. He had completed 148kg in the snatch. Gold went to Malaysian Hafizuddin Bin Roslin Muhammad with a total of 345kg, a Games record.
Women’s 69kg: Laryne Jefferies finished 8th
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
WEIGHTLIFTING
Men’s Play-off: Team SA’s men lost 15-5 to Canada which ended their hopes of reaching the semi-finals and with it their campaign has finished.
Photo: ANTON GEYSER/Team SA