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Paris Olympics wrap: These athletes shone brightest for Team South Africa

South Africa's Tatjana Smith poses with her gold medal after winnng the women's 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

South Africa's Tatjana Smith poses with her gold medal after winnng the women's 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

Published Aug 12, 2024

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Team South Africa won six medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, doubling their tally from the previous Games in Tokyo in 2021.

It was the third time South Africa achieved six medals at the Olympic Games, after twice achieving the the feat in Athens in 2005 and in London in 2012. Their haul of 10 medals at Rio 2016 is still the most by any SA team since re-admission in 1992.

Tatjana Smith was the only South African to win a gold medal in Paris when he won the 100m breaststroke.

IOL Sport’s John Goliath looks at the Team SA’s medallists, the shining lights at the Paris Olympics.

TATJANA SMITH (gold - 100m breaststroke, silver 200m breastrstroke)

Swimming superstar Tatjana Smith retired from swimming following her amazing achievements in the pool at the Paris Olympics

Smith became the country’s most decorated Olympian after she followed up her gold and silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics with more of the same in France.

Smith, who won the silver medal in 100m breaststroke in Tokyo in 2021, swam a magnificent last 50m to beat China’s Tang Qianting in the event in Paris to win South Africa’s only gold medal of the Games.

She earned the silver medal in the 200m breaststroke final, finishing second behind the United States’ Kate Douglas, who produced a sensational swim to win the gold in a new national record.

— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 27, 2024

BLITZBOKS (bronze, Rugby Sevens)

The Blitzboks’ had to take the “gravel road” to the Paris Olympics after a disappointing season on the World Rugby Sevens Series circuit, but came good when it really mattered.

After losing their first two matches against Ireland and New Zealand, they hammered Japan to qualify for the quarter-finals via the back door as the best of the third-placed pool teams. However, they produced an unbelievable defensive display against the Kiwis to set up a semi-final against host France.

The French, though, proved to be too strong for the Blitzboks in the semis, but the South Africans bounced back to claim the bronze after Shaun Williams scored well after the final hooter had gone to earn Team South Africa’s first medal at the Paris Olympics.

ALAN HATHERLY (bronze - men’s mountain biking)

South Africa’s Alan Hatherly made history as he walked away with the mountain bike bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Hatherly became the first South African to win a cycling medal at the Olympics since the country’s re-admission in 1992, and the first ever African to win an Olympic medal in the mountain bike.

The 28-year-old Hatherly, who won back-to-back World Cup events heading into the Olympics, produced a ride full of character and guts to follow Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock and France’s Victor Koretzky across the finish line in.

JO-ANE VAN DYK (silver, women’s javelin)

Van Dyk delivered a sensational performance on the biggest stage of them all to secure silver in the women’s javelin.

Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi claimed gold with a distance of 65.80 metres with her first throw of the final, with Van Dyk taking second with a personal best effort of 63.93m in the third round.

Van Dyk added the Olympic silver medal to her list of achievements, which includes two African Championships titles.

— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) August 9, 2024

MEN’S 4X100 RELAY TEAM (silver, athletics)

South Africa sprint star Akani Simbine ran a sensational anchor to power the Team SA men’s 4x100m relay team to silver the final.

Simbine produced a blistering final leg to come from well down in the field to finish second behind Canada.

Having narrowly missed out on a medal on numerous occasions in the past, including the final of the men’s 100m final in Paris, Simbine left it all on the track as he took South Africa home.

Teenager Bayanda Walaza, Shaun Maswanganyi and Bradley Nkoana set up Simbine with flawless changeovers before Team SA’s sprint sensation ran a 8.78 final leg to earn Mzansi’s only medal on the track at the Games.

@JohnGoliath82

Related Topics:

francetatjana smithakani simbineteam sablitzboksparis olympic gamesparis olympics 2024rugbyswimmingathleticsmountain bike