South Africa has lived up to its goal of improving its medal score from three at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, by tallying the number up to a total of six medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The team bagged one gold, two bronze and three silvers.
Great resilience and drive were displayed by nearly 150 athletes who formed part of Team SA.
Amongst the remarkable milestones and record-breaking moments, were that of Tatjana Smith, who bagged Team SA’s only gold medal at the 100m women’s breaststroke and sprinter, Akani Simbine who set a new African record in the men’s 4x100m relay, which resulted in a silver medal victory.
Tributes and congratulatory messages from fans and government were extended to the team for the spectacular representation of the country at the Olympics which ended on Sunday.
“Team South Africa brough home six medals after participating in various codes including the Rugby Sevens who will bring home bronze in this regard.
In what proved to be the ultimate performance, the relay team added a silver medal to the total.
It is sport that brought this country together and while there is still much to be done to ensure that athletes receive the necessary support in the ecosystem to better the number of medals in the Olympics,’’ read a statement by the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture.
According to the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) athletes who win gold will be awarded R400,000, with the coach receiving R100,000.
Silver medalists will earn R200,000 and R50,000, while the bronze medal payouts will be R75,000 and R25,000 for the athlete and coach, respectively.
Meanwhile, all eyes will now be set on the 2024 Paris Paralympics scheduled from 28 August to 8 September.
An official squad of 26 athletes who will be representing SA in sporting codes such as cycling, swimming and wheelchair tennis amongst others, was announced last month.
