Swimmers led the charge for Team South Africa in the morning session at the Olympic Games in Paris on Wednesday, with all three participants coasting through the first-round heats.
Tatjana Smith, who won the 100m breaststroke final on Monday, stuck up her hand as the firm favourite to retain her Olympic title in her favoured 200m breaststroke event.
Smith was the fastest swimmer in the opening round over four lengths of the pool, clocking 221.57, well ahead of her opponents. Tes Schouten of the Netherlands was next quickest in 223.08.
Kaylene Corbett, who reached the 200m breaststroke final at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, was sixth fastest in the heats in 223.85.
And Pieter Coetze , who was fifth in the 100m backstroke final on Monday, shone again in the 200m breaststroke heats. He was third fastest, touching the wall in 156.92.
