Paris 2024 swimming: All results, as South Africa’s Tatjana Smith flies to Olympic glory in women’s 100m breaststroke, Lilly King misses podium by 0.1 seconds 

South Africa’s Tatjana Smith flew to Olympic glory at Paris 2024 in the women’s 100m breaststroke to take her country’s first gold medal in the event since 1996.

She touched the wall with a time of 1:05.28, before breaking down in tears of joy.

“I think everyone is so proud,” she said after the race, talking about what she thinks the reaction will be like back in her home country.

“I think they would have been proud even if I did not win a medal. That’s what I am really grateful for, really just the people in my life, they have been so supportive. It’s the small things that make us and drive us as athletes.”

After taking the silver medal in the event at Tokyo 2020, Smith stood on the top of the podium with the gold medal around her neck. This will be her first gold medal of Paris 2024, but lifetime second as she took the title in the 200m breaststroke in Tokyo.

People’s Republic of China’s reigning 100m breaststroke world champion Tang Qianting took the silver medal with a time of 1:05.54, followed by the Republic of Ireland’s Mona McSharry, who took third with 1:05.59.

Crying fame for Mona McSharry

McSharry’s bronze is the first medal for her nation at Paris 2024 and her first piece of Olympic hardware ever.

“I started crying on the podium and I have not fully stopped crying yet,” she said after accepting her bronze medal.

“It’s just unbelievable, it’s the pinnacle of sport to have all your hard work pay off in something like this.”

USA’s Lilly King, who was the 2016 Olympic champion in the event, missed the podium by one-hundredth of a second, to finish tied for fourth with a time of 1:05.60.

Swimming: Women's 100m breaststroke podium

Gold: Tatjana Smith, South Africa

Silver: Tang Qianting, People's Republic of China

Bronze: Mona McSharry, Republic of Ireland