Fast, faster, fastest sums up Pieter Coetze's performances at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
By now, everyone knows that the Tuks swimmer won all three backstroke events (50, 100 and 200 metres). He also set a Games record each time. He almost set a world record. His winning time in the 100m backstroke was 51.77s. This is just 0.17s slower than Thomas Ceccon's world record set in 2022.
With performances like that, it's easy to think that Coetze is a superhuman being who will keep winning. That nothing fazes him, but that's not the case. It does not matter how many medals you win or records you set. In the end, any athlete is just a normal human being.
Coetze hinted at this just after winning his first gold medal in the 50m backstroke. In an interview afterwards, he said, "I had some challenges in my training in the buildup to the Games. At times, it has been tough."
When the Tuks psychology student was asked about it on Tuesday, he explained that he can be very hard on himself at times.
"When I swim, I have to be the best. It's about perfectionism for me. In the buildup to the Glasgow Games, the obsession became too intense. My view of myself took a big hit. I wouldn't say it was depression. Life just started to feel dull.
"When you feel like that, it becomes difficult to get up early in the morning and push yourself to the limits in training. The training block just before the Games was probably one of the worst I've ever had. Still, I tried to be the best I could at every session.
"Things only started to improve when I spoke to my family and made the decision to get professional help. It was one of the best decisions. My family's support was invaluable. What happened at the Games exceeded my hopes. I'm still grateful for it."
Coetze swam almost 15 races, including the relays, over six days at the Games. It feels almost impossible to think it's possible to step up so many times. For Coetze, however, it's all in a day's work.
"The training we do is actually tougher than competitive swimming. We train for nine sessions of two hours a week, and then gym time comes on top. After five races, I have more confidence in my skills. It's a case of what you did yesterday, you do again today. That's why I get better as the competition goes on."
Which do you prefer, the 100 or 200 metre backstroke?
"For me, it's too even. I would say at the moment the 100m backstroke is my favourite event. It's a sweet spot for me between sprinting and endurance swimming. But I feel there's still a lot for me to do in the 200m backstroke."
And the relays?
"I enjoy it, it's fun. "What was special was being able to contribute to helping Chad (Le Clos) make swimming history at the Games. Ever since I started swimming, Chad has been a huge inspiration to me. I learned a lot from Chad about performing and swimming with the right mindset."
Coetze swam in the 4x100 medley mixed team that won silver, and the teams that won bronze in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, as well as the 4x100m medley relay.
The Tuks swimmer plans to compete in all three World Cup events later this year. He has, however, not made up his mind as to competing at the World Shortcourse Championships in December.