SWIMMING NEWS - Mili-seconds is what it is going to be all about for Tatjana Schoenmaker as she prepares for next year's Tokyo Olympic Games.
TuksSwimming's head coach, Rocco Meiring, is quite clear as to what awaits them. Saying the days of Schoenmaker "flying under the radar" is undoubtedly something of the past. From now on every time she competes internationally, she will be the one that everyone wants to beat. That is, unfortunately, the price you pay when you win a silver medal at a World Championships.
"For us, it is all about marginal gains," explained Meiring when asked about the plan from now until the Olympic Games.
"The goal is for Tatjana to consistently swim times of two minutes 23 seconds every time she competes from now on in the 200m breaststroke with the ultimate being to get her to swim 2:21 or even faster."
Over the last three years, the Tuks swimmer has managed to continually improve her 200m breaststroke times. In 2017 her best was 2:24.61 and last year it was 2:22.02. During the World Championships, she swam 2:21.79.
Only three swimmers have clocked faster times so far this season. Russia's Yuliya Efimova has swum 2:20.17, Annie Lazor (USA) 2:20.77 and Lilly King (USA) 2:21.39.
