SA's Schoenmaker cruises into 200m breaststroke final at World Championships

Tatjana Schoenmaker cruised into her second World Aquatics Championships final in Fukuoka, Japan, comfortably winning her 200m breaststroke semifinal in 2:21.31 to progress to Friday’s final as the quickest of the pack.

The 26-year-old Olympic champion and former world record-holder in the event dominated from the start, reaching each of thurns in first place ahead of American Lilly King, who was second in 2:22.68.

Dutch swimmer Tes Schouten won the other semifinal in a time of 2:21.71.

In the earlier heats, Schoenmaker swam 2:22.92 to easily win her heat and qualify second fastest for the semifinals.

Earlier in the day, Aimee Canny swam a personal best time in the 100m freestyle, reaching the wall in 54.60 seconds to finish sixth in her heat. That saw the 19-year-old through to the evening semifinals, where she finished eighth in 54.87 seconds, so missing out on a spot in the final.

“I was very happy with the race in this morning’s heats,” said Canny. “I was coming off a pretty disappointing 200m [freestyle], so I was just happy to make the semis.”

Canny’s time of 54.60 edged her closer to the South African and African record of 54.23 that Erin Gallagher set at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“I definitely have my eyes set on that record, hopefully in the near future,” reckoned Canny. “I just need to really put my head down and focus and get a really good training block in ahead of this Olympic cycle and give it my all.

“But overall I’m very happy with the race, new experiences, and there’s just so much more to come.”

Swimming action continues on Friday in Fukuoka with 43-year-old Roland Schoeman scheduled to be back in the pool in the 50m freestyle heats while Schoenmaker’s 200m breaststroke final will be contested in the evening session.