Day 3 Recap – First Medals and Another FISU Record for Team SA in the Pool

Rhine-Ruhr, Germany – July 19, 2025

Team South Africa’s swimmers delivered a well-rounded set of performances on Day 3 of the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games, earning their first medals of the competition and adding a second FISU record to their campaign. The day concluded with one medal in each colour—gold, silver, and bronze—marking a productive outing in the pool.

Morning Session – Consistent Efforts and Relay Qualification

The programme began with Dylan Wright in Heat 3 of the Men’s 200m Butterfly. Swimming from lane 8, Wright finished 8th in his heat with a time of 2:02.44, which was not enough to progress further.

In the Women’s 100m Backstroke heats, Michaela de Villiers produced a composed swim of 1:01.15 in Heat 5, placing 2nd to secure a semifinal place. Teammate Hannah Pearse, competing in the same event, recorded 1:02.58 for 7th in her heat and did not advance.

Matthew Randle contested Heat 4 of the Men’s 200m Backstroke, posting 2:15.06 from lane 1 to place 6th and qualify for the next round. In the Men’s 200m Breaststroke, Shaun Thomas finished 6th in Heat 5 with 2:16.18, while in the Men’s 1500m Freestyle, Righardt Muller swam 15:43.19 for 6th in Heat 2. Both missed out on final qualification.

The Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay concluded the morning schedule, with the team of Ruard Van Renen, Michael Houlie, Olivia Nel, and Michaela de Villiers posting 3:51.25 for 3rd in their heat and progressing to the final.

Evening Session – Podium Finishes and a New Record

The evening’s finals began with the Women’s 100m Freestyle, where Olivia Nel swam from lane 6 to finish 4th in 54.32, narrowly missing the podium in a closely contested race.

In the Men’s 100m Backstroke Final, Pieter Coetzé converted his top seeding into victory, touching first in 51.99 to win gold and improve on his own FISU record from the previous day.

Michaela de Villiers returned for the Women’s 100m Backstroke Semifinal, improving to 1:00.81 for 2nd in her race and qualifying for the final.

The Women’s 50m Breaststroke Final featured two South Africans. Lara van Niekerk secured the silver medal with a 30.68 finish, while Simone Moll placed 4th in 30.98.

In the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Semifinal, Matthew Randle recorded 2:15.11 for 8th in his race, falling short of the final.

The Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay Final brought the day to a close, with Van Renen, Houlie, Nel, and De Villiers combining for 3:48.34 to claim the bronze medal, improving on their morning swim by nearly three seconds.

Steady Progress and Positive Results

Day 3 in the pool provided a mix of solid heat performances, successful qualifications, and three podium finishes. Coetzé’s record-setting gold, Van Niekerk’s silver, and the relay team’s bronze were balanced by several swimmers gaining valuable international race experience.

With competitive momentum building and multiple finals ahead, the team remained in a strong position to continue contributing to South Africa’s overall performance at the Games.