When South Africa's Sportsman of the Year, Pieter Coetzé, dives in to swim the 100m-freestyle on Friday in Greece the one thing guaranteed is he will give 100%.

It is who he is. The 18-year-old says his desire is to win every time he competes. If the Tuks swimmer does not do so, he at least wants the satisfaction of having set a new personal best time. Coetzé will be competing at the Acropolis Swim Open in Athens. 

"I don't know who is competing, but my goal will remain unchanged. I want to be the best I can be. It means doing what I need to do."

Currently, Coetzé is the second fastest in the world in the 50m and 100m backstroke events and the third fastest in the 200m-backstroke. His winning times during the SA Champs in Gqeberha were 50 metres (24.36s), 100 metres (52.78s) and 200 metres (1:56.66).

Apart from the three breaststroke events (50, 100 and 200 metres), Coetzé will also compete in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle events and the 100m-butterfly.

"The reason I am swimming the other events is to gain experience," said Coetzé. 

The Tuks swimmer will not compete in Japan at the World Championships in July. 

"I had a long discussion with my coach, Rocco Meiring, after the national championships. I told him my main goal is to be at my best during next year's Paris Olympic Games. So I wanted to know how to go about it.

The advice I got from 'Coach Rocco' was to refrain from competing at worlds as the timing needed to be better. The world champs date slots in amid an important training cycle. 

"I know I will experience a severe case of 'FOMO' when I watch Worlds on television. But it is for the best. Not competing gives me time to focus on my matric record exams. There is a real chance that Matt States and I will go to Europe to compete in August."

The 19-year-old States joined TuksSwimming this year. According to Coetzé, having him as a training partner is exciting.

"Matt and I share the same goals, which is good because it leads us to push each other to our limits during training."

Asked what he is working on to be faster, Coetzé said it is to be tactically savvier in the 200m-backstroke. 
"The 200 metres is all about pacing, and I tend to get it wrong. I often start too slow, and then I need to be fast over the latter stages. There is a correct way how to swim 200 metres. I need to swim a few more races to learn how to do it. Naturally, there are various other small things I am continuously working on to be faster."