Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa has congratulated Tatjana Schoenmaker for becoming South Africa’s first gold medal winner and new world record holder at the Olympics.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, Masechaba Khumalo issued a statement on Friday, 30 July 2021, on behalf of the ministry. Minister Nathi Mthethwa congratulated Tatjana Schoenmaker on winning South Africa’s first gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 200m breaststroke race, and for also breaking a world record.
The ministry confirmed that the 24-year-old swimmer had smashed the two minutes, 19 seconds and 11 nanoseconds (2:19:11) world record held by Denmark’s Rikke Moller Pedersen since 2013, finishing in two minutes 18 seconds and 95 nanoseconds (2:18:95). She also achieved the first individual world record of the gala. Schoenmaker was quoted as saying, “This is my first Olympics… so I’ve exceeded, or God has exceeded, all of my expectations so I could not be happier.”
The ministry further stated that upon learning of the news, Minister Mthethwa stated, “We are incredibly proud of Ms. Schoenmaker who has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that South Africa is indeed a nation of winners… she is a true ambassador of the nation and a living example that hard work and dedication truly pay off.” The Ministry of Sport also confirmed that Schoenmaker is the tenth South African to have won multiple medals at single games.
See the post below.
MEDIA STATEMENT:
Minister @NathiMthethwaSA congratulates @TRSchoenmaker on making history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics! 🇿🇦#WorldRecord pic.twitter.com/gtjl7Vf74D
— Masechaba Khumalo 💫🌕🕯️ (@MasechabaAfrica) July 30, 2021