South Africa's Tatjana Schoenmaker has beat another Olympic record on Wednesday when she won her heat in the 200m breaststroke in Tokyo. The 24-year-old almost broke the world record by 05 seconds outside the world record mark set eight years ago. 

Schoenmaker opened Team SA's account at this year's Olympics on Tuesday by winning silver in the women's 100m breaststroke at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Speaking to Supersport and Reflecting on this great achievement the Pretoria swimmer said she felt a little nervous and didnt expect to that fast at all

" Asked about getting so close to the world record, the 24-year-old laughed and added: “That time was really fast. When I saw five-hundredths I was thinking – if I just had these [long] nails." 

“But it was a really good race, I can’t complain. Yes, I was really close. But I’m definitely still going to try my best tomorrow and the day after. Hopefully I can get some recovery in because it is challenging going into the mornings.”

Meanwhile, to add to Schoenmaker’s joy was the fact that her Tuks teammate Kaylene Corbett produced a massive personal best to win her own 200m breaststroke heat in 2:22.48 and qualify fourth fastest for Thursday’s semifinals.

“I think Kaylene motivated me. She swam a two-second PB [personal best] so I was like ‘Ah, maybe I can also swim well today.’ She definitely made me feel more relaxed going into the 200. I don’t think I have words to say how happy I am right now.”

Meanwhile Corbett had not been able to contain her emotion while watching her teammate finishing in such a sensationally quick time.

“I can’t believe that,” she beamed, wiping away the tears.

“We always say we’re sisters in Christ which is a huge thing for us. When she swims well, I’m excited, when I swim well, she’s excited… I can’t explain the feeling. Having her achieve her goals is something that I absolutely love to see and is extremely exciting and inspiring and pushes the whole squad, not just me.”