The Olympic flame has been extinguished and the flag officially handed over to Los Angeles, USA for what promises to be a spectacular Games in 2028, and Team SA returns to the country with a haul of six medals, three more than after the Tokyo Games – with three of those claimed by women on the team.
Tatjana Smith was always going to be the country’s biggest medal hope, heading to Paris as the defending champion in the 200m breaststroke and silver medallist in the 100m event after her sensational performances in Tokyo three years ago.
With the high expectations of a success-hungry nation on her, the 27-year-old duly delivered, returning the same haul, but this time with gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 200m event.
Had someone told her beforehand it would be that way around, she wouldn’t have believed them. “I wouldn’t!”
“Obviously my training has been for the 200, the 100 I’m just very blessed to walk away with medals, I never expected it. But I am very grateful for the 100 having the gold, it really took off the pressure for me.”
SA’s Most Decorated Olympian, Tatjana Smith
“I think I had a lot of expectation from what I did have from Tokyo, so it really made me actually just enjoy the 200 and go out there and have nothing to lose.”
As always, Smith was smiling and gracious in her success, giving all the credit to the “village” of people who got her there, and even donning all their names on the back of a t-shirt when she mounted the medal podium.
Meanwhile, for javelin thrower Jo-Ané van Dyk, the journey to the podium has been a very different one. There’s been no massive team of supporters, no major sponsors, no media clambering for her attention as she’s quietly worked away, training every day at her base in Potchefstroom.
Van Dyk competed in Tokyo but didn’t even make the final, throwing 57.69m in qualification and heading home soon after.
This time around she made sure she got through, showing up for the qualifying round, throwing a PB of 64.22m on her first attempt, well past the 62m needed for automatic qualification for the final, and packing her bag after her job was done for the day.
She then came out for the final full of belief and threw 63.93m in the third round which secured her the silver medal. Had Van Dyk worn a similar t-shirt with the names of her backers, it would not have been a very long list.
“It’s been very difficult… I think especially after I finished with my studies,” explained the qualified dietician. “I have been supported by my parents, because they also believed in me, and they were believing in the passion that I have.
“It was quite difficult. It’s difficult when everybody else is moving on with their lives, and earning salaries and I’m just here, just trying and still trying.”
Paris 2024 Silver Medalist, Jo-Ané van Dyk
The 26-year-old did not qualify for SASCOC’s Operation Excellence programme, so didn’t even have that financial support to cover the bills each month, although a pre-Games training camp for her and iconic coach Terseus Liebenberg (who also guided Sunette Viljoen to Olympic silver at Rio 2016) was at least covered.
But she came out and did it anyway. It’s been a tough and emotional journey, but certainly one with a silver lining.
“There weren’t many words, just tears. [Terseus was] just so proud of me. And I think for us both it was a battle to be here and it’s just amazing.”
After a short break for her wedding in October, Van Dyk will be looking ahead to another Olympic campaign. One only hopes it will be slightly easier, financially, than this one has been.
Meanwhile, others have come to Paris and left without reaching the podium, but have certainly entertained and inspired over the last 16 days.
From flag-bearer Caitlin Rooskrantz, whose gymnastics campaign was heartbreakingly cut short by injury to Candice Lill whose medal hopes in the mountain biking came to an end when her tyre burst, there’s been plenty of drama along the way.
Special mention must go to swimmer Kaylene Corbett who reached the final of the 200m breaststroke for a second time, Prudence Sekgodiso who produced some rousing performances to reach the 800m final on the track, and Julia Vincent who became the nation’s first diver to reach an Olympic final in the 3m springboard event.
And to those whose Olympic dreams did not involve finals or podiums but rather achieving a personal best or SA record, like Aniya Holder in the speed climbing, or simply finishing the race, as was the case for Irvette van Zyl who crossed the Olympic marathon finish line for the first time 12 years after her first attempt.
South Africans have been inspired.
Team South Africa’s Women’s Contingent and Paris 2024 Broadcast Updates
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Saturday, 27 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Sunday, 28 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Monday, 29 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Tuesday, 30 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Wednesday, 31 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Thursday, 1 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Friday, 2 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Saturday, 3 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Sunday, 4 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Monday, 5 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Tuesday, 6 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Wednesday, 7 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Thursday, 8 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Friday, 9 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Sunday, 11 August, 2024
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere, with editing by gsport
Photo Caption: The Olympic flame has been extinguished and the flag officially handed over to Los Angeles, and Team SA returns to the country with three of the nation’s haul of six medals claimed by women on the team. Photo: Karien Jonckheere
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