![SOUTH AFRICA’S SWIMMER SETS NEW RECORD IN TOKYO](https://africaequity.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_9275.jpg)
By Faith Nyasuguta
For the first time in 25 years, South Africa has had its first female gold medallist in swimming at the Tokyo Olympics.
In Japan, Tatjana Schoenmaker has set a new world record in the women’s 200m breaststroke final.
It is the first time a woman has swam in under two minutes 19 seconds.
This week on Tuesday, Schoenmaker secured a silver medal in the 100m event.
The silver medal was the maiden Olympic medal by a South African female swimmer in 21 years.
According to the female swimmer, she hoped her win would bring some happiness to her home country after a period of violence.
This month, South Africa underwent weeks of violent protests and vandalism leaving over 300 people dead and highly valuable goods looted.