Team SA finally bags Gold Rio 2016 Olympics!

On Sunday, the whole of South Africa cheered as we finally clinched our first gold medal in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Wayde van Niekerk placed first in the men’s 400 metre track event on Sunday. Not only did Wayde manage to get South Africa its first gold for the 2016 Olympics, he smashed a 17 year-old world record in the process.

The record for the men’s 400m was held by America’s Micheal Johnson, with a time of 43.18 seconds. Wayde managed to beat the record by finishing at 43.03.

With this victory South Africa has risen in the ranks from 41 to 24 for the Rio Olympics.

Ten athletes from South Africa will be competing today at the Olympics. They will be competing in Men and Women’s Hurdles, Triple Jump, Women’s Marathon Swimming and Women’s Canoe Sprint.

SA Competitors for today;

Women’s 10km Marathon Swimming: Michelle Weber

Women’s 200m track: Alyssa Conley, Justine Palframan

Women’s 400m Hurdles: Wenda Nel

Women’s Kayaking 200m canoe sprint: Bridgitte Hartley

Men’s Triple Jump Athletics: Godfrey Khotso Mokoena

Men’s 400m Hurdles: Le Roux Hamman, Lindsay Hanekom, L.J van Zyl

Men’s 110m Hurdles: Antonio Alkana