Friday when Tatjana Schoenmaker dives into the pool to contest the 100m-breaststroke at the Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy it could be seen as a return to the event in which she kicked of her international swimming career. 

The Tuks swimmer made local swimming history in 2017 when she won a silver medal in the 200m-breaststroke in Taiwan. It was only the second time a South African female swimmer managed to win a medal at the Student Games. Penny Heyns was the first. 

The national swimming coach, Graham Hill, predicted that Schoenmaker's performance was the breakthrough South African women's swimming needed. 

He was correct. A more confident Schoenmaker raised the bar yet again during last year's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. She won the 100m as well as the 200m breaststroke events in national record times. Her winning time of 2:22.02 in the 200m-breaststroke was the sixth fastest internationally last year. 

The Tuks swimmer indicated she would not mind winning another medal at the World Student Games, but it might difficult. 

"My focussed changed. Ten days after the World Student Games, I will compete at the World Championships in Korea. It is the first time I am participating in two consecutive major international galas in such a short space of time.

"I plan not to taper at all for the World Student Games. When I race, it will be like a hard training session. It is an ideal opportunity to get used to competing internationally again. One of the things I will be focussing on is controlling my nerves as well as some aspects of technique."

Schoenmaker explained that the competition at the World Student Games is a lot stiffer than fans might realise. She expects that quite a few of the world's top swimmers, especially the Japanese, will be doing as she is doing. That is using the Games as preparation for the World Championships.

It is the first time she will be competing at a World Championships (12-28 July).

"My main aim will be to swim faster than the Olympic qualifying standards. It means a time of 2:25.52 or quicker in the 200m breaststroke and to try and come as close as possible to swimming a time of 1:00.25 in the 100m-breaststroke. Hopefully, if I do, I will qualify for the finals in both events."

During the South African Championships in Durban, the Tuks swimmer won the 200m breaststroke in 2:24.44 and the 100m breaststroke in 1:06.83. 

She admits that it has been a challenge to find time to study and train. An important goal is to finish her studies at the end of this year. If she does, she will be able to next year only focus on being at her best for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

Nathania van Niekerk (backstroke) and Kaylene Corbett (breaststroke) are the two other Tuks swimmers who will be competing at the World Student Games.