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2024 In Review | A golden year for SA sport

todayDecember 28, 2024 40 1

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2024 proved to be a significant year for South Africa, on almost all fronts.

From the inception of the Government of National Unity, which some have hailed as a victory for ordinary South Africans who were tired of corruption and one-party state complacency, to local musicians and actors taking over global stages, the sporting fraternity was no different.

It produced many outstanding moments, from the Springboks’ successful season to the double final heartbreak for the Proteas men and women. Bafana Bafana also brought the nation together with a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations, among others.

This year’s Paris Olympics saw swimmer, Tatjana Smith, become South Africa’s greatest and most decorated Olympian, surpassing swimming great, Penny Heyns.

Smith went into the games in a good state of mind, and her performances showed she was swimming without any pressure, even though she was carrying the hopes of the nation.

In 2020, at the Tokyo Olympics, Smith won gold in the 200m breaststroke and silver in the 100m breaststroke.

In Paris, she blitzed to a 100m breaststroke win in 1:05.28, ahead of China’s Tang Qianting and Ireland’s Mona McSharry.

 

When her favoured 200m breaststroke came, there was great expectation for a second gold medal, but she only managed to secure a silver medal, with Kate Douglass of the USA dethroning her as Olympic champion.

 

Her two medals in Paris took her Olympic medal haul to four (two gold, two silver), making her the greatest Olympic athlete the country has produced.

One of the big stories at the games was also Akani Simbine finally securing his first Olympic medal at the age of 30.

After years of falling short of winning the holy grail, Simbine finally got the monkey off his back when he anchored South Africa’s 100m relay team to a silver medal at the Stade de France.

For all his consistency, performing at a high level and paving the way for the next generation of sprinters, Simbine always had to deal with questions about getting an Olympic medal.

It felt like the medal wouldn’t come when he narrowly missed the podium in the 100m final, finishing fourth in 9.82. When the relays came, and the team had to call on teenagers Bradley Nkoana and Bayanda Walaza after Benjamin Richardson and Wayde van Niekerk were ruled out, things looked bleak.

However, the quartet of Simbine, Nkoana, Walaza and Shaun Maswanganyi put on a strong showing in the qualifying round, finishing behind the US in 37.94. In the final, Walaza started the race well and handed the baton to Maswanganyi, who transitioned it well to Nkoana.

The 19-year-old held his nerve and gave the baton to Simbine, who made up ground and finished strong to secure second place in 37.57.

Simbine finally winning an Olympic medal alongside South Africa’s sprinting prospects felt like a full-circle moment.

Team SA also delivered a sterling showing at the Paralympics, bringing home six medals – two gold and four bronze.

President Cyril Ramaphosa sealed the successful sporting year, by honouring athletes who flew Pretoria’s flag high at the Olympics and Paralympics, committing government to establish sporting infrastructure at schools, among others. Written by Ntsako Mkhari

Written by: Lindiwe Mabena

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