By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GettyImages.
South Africa won its third silver medal after Jo-Ane van Dyk finished second in the women’s javelin and sixth overall – medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Saturday.
Van Dyk, a four-time African Championships medallist, launched a 63.93m heave with her second attempt in the final, landing the spear just 29cm short of the personal best (64.22m) she set in the qualifying round earlier in the week.
She took second place behind Japanese athlete Haruka Kitaguchi, who won gold with a first-round throw of 65.80m and Czech Nikola Ogrodnikova took bronze.
Meanwhile, in the men’s high jump final, 20-year-old Brian Raats cleared 2.17m, but he failed with all three attempts at 2.22m, settling for 12th position.
Elsewhere on Saturday, paddler Hamish Lovermore ended eighth in his kayak singles semifinal in 3:33.89. Lovemore went on to win the B final in 3:27.94, a time which would have given him fourth place in the A final.
In the women’s golf tournament, Ashleigh Buhai finished in a tie for 13th place on three-under par after shooting two-under 70 in the final round.
Her compatriot, Paula Reto, closed the fourth round in a tie for 44th position on 11-over par.
And on the wrestling mat, Steyn de Lange was defeated by Givi Matcharashvili of Georgia in the 1/8 finals of the men’s 97kg division.
Track cyclist Jean Spies settled for sixth place in his race in the first round of the men’s keirin competition. Spies went on to finish fifth in his repechage race and he was eliminated ahead of the quarterfinals.
Team SA line-up featuring Gardeo Isaacs, Zakithi Nene, Antonie Nortje, and Lythe Pillay finished 5th in the men’s 4 x 400m relay team behind the United States in a national record 2:58.12.
However, Nene again scorched around the track and has been Team SA’s best 400m athlete these Games. He made up four places with a lap of 43.81. Lythe Pillay kept the momentum with a 43.97 run and at the changeover South Africa were still fifth. And that’s where they stayed as Antonie Nortje finished off with a 44.67. With the United States winning gold in an Olympic record 2:54.43, South Africa’s quartet set a national record 2:58.12.