By SABC Sport
31st July 2024
Coetze swam first in the men's 200m backstroke and finished second in a time of 1:56.09 behind Roman Mityukov (Switzerland), while Apostolos Christou (Greece) finished third.
Next was Corbett, who had produced a strong swim on Wednesday as she finished second in her semi-final of the women's 200m breaststroke with a time 2:22:87, just adrift of winner Tes Schouten (Netherlands), while Ye Shiwen (China) finished third.
Smith, having already won the 100m backstroke, came into the semifinal heat of the 200m breastroke as one of the heavy favourites after setting the fastest time of the three heats.
Smith got off to a slow start but powered through the last 50 metres to salvage second spot in the second semi-final. She was pushed all the way by Kate Douglas (USA), who touched the wall in 2:19:74, with Smith just behind with a time of 2:19:94. Meanwhile, Lilly King (USA) finished third (2:23:25).
Coetze's 200m backstroke final is on Thursday evening at 20:37, while Smith and Corbett take to the water at 21h03 in the 200m breastroke final.
Smith's gold in the 100m backstroke, Alan Hatherly's silver in the Men's Cross-Country Mountain Biking and the Blitzboks' bronze in the Sevens make up South Africa's three medals at Paris 2024 so far.