HERMAN GIBBS
One of the highlights of South Africa’s Olympic history was the conquest of the “Oarsome Foursome” in 2012 in London.
On August 2, 2012, Sizwe Ndlovu, John Smith, Matthew Brittain and James Thompson of South Africa won the gold medal after winning the men’s lightweight four final at Eton Dorney (a purpose-built rowing lake) in Windsor, England at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Three metres out, any of four boats could have won, but the exhilarating South Africans produced one of the greatest rowing finishes in Olympic history to claim gold.
Now, 12 years later, a famous Oarsome Foursome member, Smith, will be in Paris in quest of gold again. This time, however, he’ll compete in the men’s pairs with Chris Baxter, an Olympic debutant. After London, the 34-year-old Smith competed at Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
Another Olympic debutant is Paige Badenhorst, a single sculler, who will be the third rower in Team SA in Paris.
Badenhorst has already written her name into history books as the first South African to be on the winning team at the world-famous annual Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race on the River Thames. She was a member of the record-setting Cambridge crew in 2022.
The Smith-Baxter combination has yet to prove itself on the world stage but they have shown great improvement since joining forces last year. They were fourth at the World Cup II regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland, in May, missing out on a medal by a mere 0.11 seconds.
The 24-year-old Tuks-based Baxter said he and Smith will be unknown quantities in Paris. The rowing community has, however, caught wind of Baxter’s ability. He and Damien Bonhage-Koen won gold in the men’s pairs at the 2022 World Under-23 Championships in Italy. Their winning time of 6:19.99 was also a world record.
“There is no cannon fodder when you compete at the Olympics. It is the best against the best. Or, to put it another way, there will be no slow crews in Paris. You must pay attention to every crew when racing,” said Baxter.
“What I can say is that South Africans are often seen as the underdogs of international competition. In sports, there is nothing more people like than the story of the underdog causing an upset.”
The three rowers were given a rapturous send-off by Rowing South Africa officials and fans at OR Tambo International Airport over the weekend.
Grant Dodds, Rowing South Africa team manager, said the athletes were touched by the massive turnout at the airport
“It was such an amazing send-off from the rowing community, so super-special to see our coaches and fellow rowers in their green and gold showing their support for our rower,” said Dodds.
“The team is ready and excited to make South Africa proud.”
Paige Badenhorst will be the first to compete, racing in the heat for the women’s scull on July 27.
Baxter and Smith will follow, competing in the heat for the men’s pairs on July 28. These initial races will set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling journey for the South African rowers in their quest for glory on the world stage.