Waddell stuns star field to claim gold at World Champs – pics
Zane Waddell claimed South Africa’s first gold medal at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju South Korea on Sunday winning the 50m backstroke final.
South African swimmer Zane Waddell has produced the biggest upset of the FINA World Championships so far by winning gold in the 50m backstroke on Sunday.
Russia’s Evgeny Rylov had been favoured for another gold medal but Waddell touched the wall 0.06s before the man who won the 200m backstroke on Saturday. Rylov’s compatriot Kliment Kolesnikov came in third as the superpower continues its resurgence in the pool.
Waddell’s gold compliments the double bronze effort of wounded swimming superstar Chad Le Clos and a maiden World Champs medal for Tatjana Schoenmaker. On Friday Schoenmaker became the first SA women to medal at the Long Course World Championships.
These are Waddell’s second World Championships after he competed in the 100m freestyle event at the 2017 event in Shanghai.
Waddell clocked a time of 24.43 seconds.
Gallery: Zane Waddell claims gold
South Africa’s Zane Waddell (C) competes in the semi-final of the men’s 50m backstroke event during the swimming competition at the 2019 World Championships at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center in Gwangju, South Korea, on July 27, 2019. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) South Africa’s Zane Waddell celebrates winning the final of the men’s 50m backstroke event during the swimming competition at the 2019 World Championships at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center in Gwangju, South Korea, on July 28, 2019. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) South Africa’s Zane Waddell celebrates winning the final of the men’s 50m backstroke event during the swimming competition at the 2019 World Championships at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center in Gwangju, South Korea, on July 28, 2019. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) (L-R) Silver medalist Evgeny Rylov of Russia, gold medalist Zane Waddell of South Africa and bronze medalist Kliment Kolesnikov of Russia pose for photographs at the medal ceremony for the Men’s 50m Backstroke on day eight of the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships at Nambu International Aquatics Centre on July 28, 2019 in Gwangju, South Korea. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Le Clos happy with world champs after competing injured
Ahead of the event, it seemed that Le Clos was South Africa’s best chance of gold but the Olympian was struggling with a groin niggle which may require surgery.
“I am very happy with my medals, considering the circumstances, it’s been a great week,” said
“A few weeks ago I didn’t know if I would be swimming or not, so to come here and get the two bronzes are great. It is not what I wanted…tonight in my crazy mind I thought I could win, but we will see what happens,” Le Clos said.
“We will go back to the drawing board, I am happy to go home, I haven’t been there since April, which is tough for me. I will spend a few weeks with my family and recoup.”