Pieter Coetzé

On the 9th October 2026, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, at the second leg of the 2026 World Cup, held in short course, Pieter Coetzé set a new world record for the 50m backstroke.

Pieter Theunis Coetzé, standing 1,97m tall, was born in Cape Town on 13 May 2004. He attended Laerskool Proteapark and then Hoërskool Rustenburg until Grade 10. He swam with the Rustenburg Otters SC with coaches Dee Heckler and Khalied Railoun. In March 2017, at the 2017 SA Junior Championships, Pieter set two South African Age Group records.

North West Province Swimming - best Age Group swimmers - age 13 - Pieter Coetzé

North West Swimming Association Championships 2017/2018 - SENIOR VICTRIX LUDORUM / Wallace Floating Trophy: Jana Coetzé, JUNIOR VICTRIX LUDORUM / Swimrite Floating Trophy: Chazél Orton, JUNIOR VICTOR LUDORUM / S Silent Family Trophy: Pieter Coetzé (Rustenburg Otters)

2018 - Jana en Pieter Coetzé

2019 - Jana Coetze is die Senior Victrix Ludorum en Pieter Coetze is die Junior Victor Ludorum.

2020 at Cornwall Hill College

In 2019, at just 14 and 15 years old, Pieter had a breakout year in junior and national swimming circuits. At the South African National Junior Championships (March 2019), competing as a 14-year-old, he set highly competitive times across freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke events, including racing a 2:04.27 in the 200m Freestyle and 1:08.11 in the 100m Breaststroke.

At the South African Short Course Championships (August 2019), he won the 100m Backstroke with a time of 54.68 seconds, setting a South African Age Group Record. He also finished 2nd in the 50m freestyle (22.58), 50m butterfly (24.10), and the 200m backstroke (1:55.98).

Later that same month, at age 15, Pieter swam in his first international event, competing at the FINA World Junior Championships in Budapest. He finished 9th in the 50m backstroke.

At the African Junior Championships held in Tunisia in September 2019, Pieter was the standout male athlete, winning five gold medals.

In 2020, Pieter moved to Cornwall Hill College in Irene, where he swims with coach Rocco Meiring at the Tuks Swimming Club. His older sister Jana Coetzé was also a keen swimmer at school, and went on to swim at the University of Pretoria Tuks Swimming Club until 2023.

After matric in 2022, Pieter was offered a scholarship to swim for the University of California, with coach Dave Durden’s California Golden Bears. However, he later decided to stay with coach Rocco Meiring at the Tukkies Swimming Club and swim at the University of Pretoria, where he is studying for a degree in Psychology.

2019 - Pieter Coetzé with coach Khalied Railoun from the Otters Swimming Club in Rustenburg.

2020

When the global pandemic turned the world upside down, South African swimmer Pieter Coetzé saw an opportunity in the turmoil—a chance to qualify for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.

The then 16-year-old Coetzé convinced his parents that his dream to mine for Olympic gold was worth pursuing, leaving his hometown of Rustenburg – the epicentre of the South African platinum belt – for Pretoria.

Coetzé joined the highly successful swimming programme at the University of Pretoria under the tutelage of Rocco Meiring, the architect behind Olympic gold medallist Tatjana Schoenmaker’s success.

“I basically had a year to drop, like 2.5 seconds or something. I was a bit delusional to believe I could do it, but somehow it ended up happening,” Coetzé said in an interview with Olympics.com.

At the South African National Short Course Championships in October 2020, Pieter Coetzé dominated the backstroke discipline in Pietermaritzburg:

1st place & Champion: Men's 50m Backstroke (Time: 24.08 seconds).
1st place & Champion: Men's 100m Backstroke (Time: 52.55 seconds).
2nd place: Men's 50m Freestyle (Time: 22.58 seconds).
2nd place: Men's 50m Butterfly (Time: 24.10 seconds).
2nd place: Men's 100m Individual Medley (Time: 54.43 seconds).
2nd place: Men's 200m Backstroke (Time: 1:55.98).

2021

At the South African National Aquatic Championships in April 2021, Coetzé won three individual gold medals in the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke events. He failed to set a qualifying time during the individual events, but on the final night of the championships held at the Newton Park Pool in Port Elizabeth, his backstroke leg of the 4x100m medley relay was an Olympic qualifying time of 53,85.

In doing so, he became the youngest South African male swimmer to qualify and compete at the Olympic Games, where he finished 24th overall, in a time of 54,05.

The "Oom" of TuksSwimming, Pieter Coetzé, completed a brilliant campaign when he won the 100m-backstroke during the 2021 South African National Aquatic Championships.

When the 16-year-old touched the "wall" after pushing himself to the limit for 54.25s, it meant he achieved a hat trick of victories. The Tuks swimmer also won the 50m-backstroke (25.02s) and the 200m-backstroke (1:58.33).

In doing so, he came close to qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games. In the 200m event, he missed the qualification standard by 0.83s and in the 100m event with 0.40s.

Coetzé can rightfully wonder what might have been if he did not slip at his start in the 100m-backstroke. Still, he has the satisfaction of knowing he had at least set Olympic selection times in both events.

The "Oom" thing came about when he competed in the 50m-butterfly. The South African swimming legend, Chad le Clos, said he was surprised when he saw this "big bloke" also lining up to swim.

"I am honest. I did not know who Coetzé was. Because he is so tall, I nearly called him 'Oom'. I thought Coetzé was at least 28. What an incredible talent he is. And he is only 16."

In the FINA Swimming World Cup Doha leg of the FINA Swimming World Cup in October 2021, he achieved his first major senior international titles, winning gold medals in both the 100m backstroke (52.58) and 200m backstroke (1:55.60), setting South African records in the process.

2022

At the South African Championships in April 2022, again held at Newton Park in Port Elizabeth, Pieter Coetze won the 50m and 100m backstroke and the 50m freestyle events.

After testing positive for COVID, Pieter withdrew from the 19th FINA World Championships to be held in Budapest in June. He had qualified in all three backstroke events.

In July 2022, the 22nd Commonwealth Games were held in Birmingham, where Pieter won the 100mbackstroke, came second in the 50m and third in the 200m events.

Coetze pulled a rabbit out of the hat in claiming the 200m backstroke bronze. He turned with 50m to go in lane six in sixth position but blitzed his way down the lane to come home in 29.00, which was 0.95 quicker than gold medallist Brodie Williams.

“I definitely left it a little late, although I’m happy to medal and deliver a PB,” said Coetzé. “I came into the Games, which was my first big one after my Olympics debut last year, aiming to do my best and get close to my PBs. I’ve done that, so I am very chuffed and grateful for the medals.

“ I would have liked to go even faster but coach Rocco Meiring said that when you come to these big Games it’s not about times, it’s about winning medals and making the country proud … I hope I’ve done that.

“Being part of Team SA has been amazing, I’ve learned from them every day in training. Most of them have been here before on this stage. Paris 2024 is the main focus and everything else is a stepping stone. I’ll go back home and see what Rocco and I can do to bring back Olympic gold in 2024.”

In September 2022, he competed in the 8th World Junior Championships held in Peru, where Pieter won the 200m Backstroke. He captured the gold medal in a new Championship Record time of 1:56.05, breaking the previous mark set by Hugo González in 2017. He also broke Christopher Reid's South African and African 100m backstroke record of 53.12 seconds, clocking 52.95 in the semi-finals. In the finals, he finished second in 52,99, behind Ksawery Masiuk of Poland in 52,91.

2023

At the 2023 South African National Senior Championships held in Port Elizabeth in April, Coetzé won all three individual backstroke titles. In the 50m backstroke, Coetzé’s 24.36 fell just 0.02 short of the longstanding South African national record Gerhard Zandberg set at the 2009 World Championships, which ranked him number one in the world at the time.

In the 100m backstroke event, he set a new South African record of 52,78. His winning time in the 200m was 1:56,66.

Despite qualifying for the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan later that year, Pieter and coach Rocco Meiring decided to forgo competing in that event in favour of focussing on preparing for 2024.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/2023-04-16-pieter-coetz-shows-his-class-as-roland-schoeman-tops-ye-olde-podium/

In August 2023 Pieter competed in the LEN Under 23 Championships held in Dublin.

At the inaugural 2023 LEN European U23 Swimming Championships in Dublin, Ireland, South African swimmer Pieter Coetzé competed as an international guest. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Because he represented a non-European nation, official championship podium medals were reserved for European athletes. However, Coetzé dominated the competition, posting the fastest times in multiple events to receive commemorative medals.

Pieter Coetzé's 2023 U23 Results:

50m Backstroke: 1st Place — 24.89

100m Backstroke: 1st Place — 53.44

200m Backstroke: 2nd Place — 1:57.05

200m Individual Medley (IM): 1st Place

400m Individual Medley (IM): 1st Place

2024

On 16 February 2024 at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha: - A blisteringly quick final 50m in the 200m backstroke saw SA star Pieter Coetzé powering from eighth to third place to claim the country’s first medal on Friday night.

Swimming in lane eight, the 19-year-old reached the first turn in fifth but then dropped right back to last place by halfway and the 150m mark before making his move, out-touching American Jack Aikins at the finish to claim the bronze medal in a personal best time of 1 minute 55.99 seconds. Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez took gold in 1:55.30 and Switzerland’s Roman Mityukov the silver in 1:55.40.

In the 50m backstroke, he finished in 4th place in the final with a time of 24.59 seconds. In the 100m backstroke, he placed 5th in the final with a time of 53.51 seconds.

After capturing golds across the 50m/100m/200m back and 100m free, Coetze concluded by taking the meet title in the 50m free. The teen touched in 22.45 followed by Clayton Jimmie who hit 22.83 as the silver medalist.

On racing 2004 Olympic medalist Schoeman, Coetze said, “I don’t think I’ll even get used to that… 10-year-old me would be absolutely shocked that I just beat Chad [le Clos] and Roland in one meet.

“It’s actually crazy but obviously I’m still young and early in my career and I’m just grateful for the opportunity to even race against these guys.”

Reflecting on his competition as a whole, Coetze stated, “I kind of expected a bit more of myself time-wise in some races, but five golds is always nice and I don’t want to be too hard on myself so I’ll take it. Now I’m just going to put it behind me and enjoy myself for the next few days and wind down.”

https://swimswam.com/pieter-coetze-captures-5th-gold-of-2024-south-african-nationals/

In August 2026, Pieter Coetze competed in his second Olympic Games. He qualified for the 100m and 200m backstroke events, and South Africa did not qualify for any relay team events.

In the men's 100m backstroke event at the Paris Olympic Games, all eight swimmers in the final finished in 52 seconds; the winning time was 52.0, and Pieter finished in 5th place with 52,58, which was a new African record.

In the 200m backstroke, Pieter broke the 2009 South African record set by George du Rand at the World Championships in Rome. George was wearing a supersuit when he set that record - one of 43 world records set at that event!

Suid-Afrika en Rustenburg se swemsensasie - Pieter Coetzé - saam met sy ouers en familie in ‘n foto wat vroeër vandeesweek in Parys geneem is. Pieter het Maandagaand vyfde in die eindronde van die 100 meter-rugslag geëindig.

Van links is pa Pieter (Snr), Pieter se ma Annelize, langs Annelize is haar skoonsus - ook Annelize Coetzé, by Pieter (Jnr) agter in pienk is sy suster Jana Coetzé, en voor haar (regs) is Pieter (Jnr) se vriendin - Jamie Ackerman.

World Aquatics Swimming World Cup

During October and November 2024, Pieter competed in China, Singapore and Korea. The 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup was a series of three-day meets in three cities held in the short course format.

Coetzé finished 4th place in the overall series standings after capturing seven individual victories.

Shanghai (Leg 1): Won 2 Gold (100m backstroke in 49.35 and 200m backstroke in 1:49.12), 1 Silver (50m backstroke), and 1 Bronze (100m freestyle). His 100m backstroke victory shattered his own African continental short-course record while beating Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon.
Incheon (Leg 2): Won Gold in the 100m backstroke (49.93). He also lowered the African record in the 50m backstroke to 22.80.
Singapore (Leg 3): Lowered the African record in the 50m backstroke for a second time, clocking a lifetime best of 22.75 to take the silver medal

https://swimswam.com/pieter-coetze-lowers-african-record-in-50-back-for-second-time-on-world-cup-circuit/

2025

At the South African Championships in Port Elizabeth during April 2025, Pieter Coetzé finished joint top of the men’s medal table with five individual golds, having won the 50, 100 and 200m backstroke as well as the 50 and 100m freestyle. Matthew Sates won the 200m freestyle, 100 and 200m butterfly and the 200 m and 400m individual medley.

In July 2025 Pieter Coetzé competed at the FISU World University Games (Universiade). Pieter delivered a sensational performance to secure South Africa’s first medal at the 2025 FISU Rhine-Ruhr World University Games, claiming gold in the men’s 100m backstroke final with a new Games record of 51.99 seconds.

NOTE: Intervarsity (SAU) swimming and water polo is an old tradition in South Africa, dating back to 1929. It is usually a casual affair, hosted at a university pool. Pieter Coetze does not seem to have participated in any intervarsity galas, although his sister Jana Coetzé did win the 100m backstroke at the 2022 SAU Tournament.

2026

During April of 2026, at the South African Swimming Championships, held at the Newton Park Swimming Pool in Port Elizabeth, Pieter Coetze won the 50, 100, and 200m backstroke events. He also won the 50m and 100m freestyle titles.

In July, he swam at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, again taking the 50, 100 and 200m backstroke titles.

There was no catching Pieter Coetze.

The 22-year-old won the men's 100m backstroke swimming final at the Commonwealth GamesGlasgow 2026 on Wednesday (29 July), touching in a Commonwealth Games record 51.77 to win gold by nearly a second.

The South African's time was an African record too, and lowered the Games mark of 52.20 he had set in the semi-finals a night earlier. Coetze wasn't far off the world record, either, approaching the 51.60 time set by Italy's Thomas Ceccon in 2022.

"When you've reached a high level in the sport and you've shown yourself the times you are able to swim, like I did last year, it gives me a lot of confidence and allows me to surrender to the process," Coetze said. "When you think too much or you force it too much, it's easy to not perform at your best, because you're not relaxed. You need to be relaxed to perform at the top level."

https://www.olympics.com/en/news/commonwealth-games-2026-pieter-coetze-storms-to-100m-backstroke-gold-in-glasgow

The 2026 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup was a short-course (25m) international swimming series branded as the "Silk Road Tour," which concluded on 17 October 2026. The tour featured three consecutive three-day meets hosted across historic Central Asian cities of Baku, Tashkent and Astana, bringing together over 500 elite athletes competing for a $1.2 million total prize pool.

Pieter won the overall Men's World Cup title and dominated the backstroke events, finishing the tour with 172.9 points, earning a $162 000 in prize money.

He also set his first world record in the short-course 50m backstroke (22.09 seconds) during the Tashkent leg of the tour.

Just 24 hours after breaking the world record in the 50 backstroke, South Africa’s Pieter Coetze swam the 2nd fastest 100 backstroke in history, setting a new African Record. In 25 splits, Coetze was only slower than Hubert Kos‘ world record on the 3rd 25, where he swam 12.70 to Kos’ 12.51. That was the difference maker in the final times, with Coetze finishing just five hundredths off Kos’ world record of 48.16 from the 2025 World Cup.

https://swimswam.com/pieter-coetze-breaks-african-record-with-48-21-in-mens-100-backstroke-just-off-the-world-record/