'I wanted to quit': Van Niekerk reveals struggles behind Commonwealth gold

"I was really relieved. It wasn't an easy build-up for me, so touching the wall and hearing my team-mates and everyone go crazy meant the world," the 23-year-old said.

"I knew it was going to be really, really close. I think it came down to a fingernail, so I'm just really grateful for this opportunity.

"I just wanted it a little bit more than the people next to me. With everything I've been through, I feel like I owed this one to myself."

Australia's Sienna Toohey claimed silver, while Imogen Clark, of England, and Canada's Sophie Angus took joint bronze.

It had been far from smooth sailing since the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, at which Van Niekerk (pictured) - then aged 19 - claimed gold medals in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke.

"After Birmingham, I had a foot operation that set me back," she said. "Then I got glandular fever, which kept me out longer than expected, followed by a lot of other health problems.

"In the last year, I really started to struggle with my health. Everyone has their own obstacles, and I'm overcoming this one. It's just going to make me stronger.

"I'm working with a very good new doctor, so when I get home I'm going to have a lot of tests done again so we can figure it out."

The Pretoria-born breaststroke specialist, with seven African titles to her name, also lives with autoimmune thyroid disease - a condition that can severely affect energy levels, metabolism and recovery.

"Your thyroid is one of the most important glands in your body," Van Niekerk said.

"It affects your heart rate, body temperature, weight, probably almost everything. If your thyroid isn't happy, your body's not happy.

"It's been really hard with all the ups and downs. I haven't always been able to have the training blocks I wanted, and at competitions I normally get a flare-up. Hopefully we'll get that sorted out in the future."

Throughout her career, the swimmer has also undergone emergency appendix surgery, battled a lung infection and suffered a herniated disc in her spine.

Perhaps the cruellest setback of all was an administrative error in the registration of her qualification times that cost her a place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, after which she considered quitting the sport.

"I qualified twice but because of things beyond my control, I couldn't go. When you've worked your whole life for something and then can't compete, it's devastating," Van Niekerk said.

"Then I had quite a serious back injury, so I was out of the sport for a while. Taking three months away from swimming made me realise how much I love it, so I'm not ready to quit just yet."

Aiming to make her Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, her third Commonwealth Games title was an important step on that journey and a sign that the toughest chapter of her career could finally be behind her.

"This medal means a lot more to me (than the Birmingham 2022 medals) because of everything I've been through. 

"I don't post about it on social media, but the people closest to me know what I've been going through. It just shows me that if you don't give up, anything is possible.

"There were a few times when I wanted to quit, but I kept going because I owe it to my younger self.

"I even made my phone wallpaper a baby photo of me swimming, and every time I open my phone, I remember why I do this. I do it for that little girl."