SA medal hopefuls failed to live up to top billing
Zaahier Adams
Reaching the Olympics is a triumph in itself, but we can all agree that we probably expected a little bit more from a handful of athletes in Team SA at the Paris Games. Here, Independent Newspapers looks at five disappointing performances.
Chad le Clos
South Africa’s London 2012 hero not only lost his crown as the country’s most decorated Olympian to Tatjana Smith in Paris, but also failed to reach his first final in four visits. Le Clos ended second in his 100m butterfly heat in 52.24sec, finishing 24th overall.
The 32-year-old admittedly was carrying a shoulder injury, but has certainly not looked in any way like the golden boy that once dethroned the mighty Michael Phelps. He has not given up yet, though, and instead vowed to continue swimming competitively.
“I’m happy with the career I’ve had. It’s not done yet. I’m definitely in the departure lounge. Like I said, I’m a pensioner. The shoulder, the back, everything is falling apart. But it is what it is. We keep swinging. I’m not going to give up,” Le Clos said.
Wayde van Niekerk
Fellow South African sports legend Van Niekerk found Paris 2024 just one bridge too far.
The 400m world and Olympic record holder was controversially included in the Team SA squad on the premise that he would participate in the 200m sprints and form part of either the 4x100m or 4x400m relay teams.
Van Niekerk finished last in his 200m semi-final, stopping the clock on 20.72, which was way off his personal best of 19.84 he set in 2017. To add insult to injury, Van Niekerk took no part in either of the South African relay teams.
“I’m not happy with where I’m at the moment. I’m putting in the work every day. It was impossible when I got there, (and) it feels impossible right now,” he said.
Gerda Steyn
South Africa’s ultra-marathon queen failed to live up her billing in Paris as she finished in a disappointing 45th position in the women’s marathon.
Steyn, who has won three Comrades and is a double Two Oceans winner, was never among the leaders and finished in a time of 2:32:51 – well off her national record time. She was upstaged by her lesser-known South African teammate Cian Oldknow, who crossed the line in 32nd place in 2:30:29, while Irvette van Zyl finished 37th in 2:31:14.
Jordy Smith and Sarah Baum
There were high hopes that South Africa’s surfing duo Smith and Baum could deliver in their events, even more so after Bianca Buitendag claimed a silver medal in the women’s competition in Tokyo three years ago.
But neither could manage to advance past the quarter-finals in Tahiti, after fellow men’s surfer Matthew McGillivray had already bowed out in the second round.
Kyle Blignaut
The strongman from Krugersdorp has endured a tough time since finishing sixth in the Olympic final in Tokyo.
Having lost his long-time coach to cancer and relocated to Italy to redefine his technique, Blignaut has not been able to hit the same heights as three years ago.
He only managed a throw of 20.78m in Paris, which is way off his personal best of 21.21. At 24 years old, Blignaut still has time on his side, though, and hopefully South Africans will see the best of him in Los Angeles in four years.