Teen Lara van Niekerk claims bronze as SA wins first medal at FINA World Championships

South African swimmer Lara van Niekerk clinched the country's first medal at the ongoing FINA World Championships in Budapest on Saturday.

Swimming in lane three, Van Niekerk won bronze in the women's 50m breaststroke final, touching the wall in 29.90.

Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte secured gold in 29.70, while Italian Benedetta Pilato took home silver in 29.80.

The 19-year-old Van Niekerk is South Africa's only medallist at the FINA World Championships so far, with the swimming portion of the tournament done in Budapest. The remaining disciplines (diving, water polo and open water) will continue until Saturday, 3 July.

This is Van Niekerk's final event in Budapest after the teenager reached the 100m breaststroke semi-final but could not progress to the final.

In April, at the SA Swimming Championships in Gqeberha, Van Niekerk made headlines when she stunned Olympic gold medallist Tatjana Schoenmaker to win gold in the women's 100m breaststroke.

Ahead of next month's Commonwealth Games, scheduled from 28 July-8 August, Van Niekerk will compete in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events.

50m Breaststroke Final #FINABudapest2022 ??Ruta Meilutyte ??Benedetta Pilato??Lara van NiekerkFull Results ??https://t.co/vFCL2zLGAP pic.twitter.com/WJkfLNQQWx