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Despite its political problems, Brazil still managed to pull off a successful Olympic Games.
From a glittering opening ceremony at the iconic Maracanã Stadium on August 5, to the last-minute touch-up of Olympic venues, it was a resounding success.
Although there was a heavy police presence at every venue, this was forgotten once the Games started. South Africans will always remember Rio de Janeiro for the performance of national hero Wayde van Niekerk, who ran his way into the history books with a new world record in the men’s 400m. In the process, Van Niekerk became the first South African track gold medal winner in 96 years.
Here is a round-up of some of the Olympic moments that made us scream with joy.
Wayde van Niekerk
He lit up the Olympic Stadium when he ran 43.03 seconds to smash the 17-year-old 400m world record set by USA great Micheal Johnson. The 24-year-old ran like a beast and he is now going into the 2020 Games in Tokyo as an Olympic star. In his debut Olympics, the darling of SA sport performed his way into the Olympics hall of fame.
Luvo Manyonga
From the dusty streets of Mbekweni in the Western Cape, came a boy who battled with drug addiction. And yet Luvo came within one centimetre of winning a gold medal at his first Olympics. But, he still jumped into the hearts of the nation with his 8.37m leap in the men’s long jump final. He tested positive for tik in 2012, but against all odds he gave the best jump of his life to come back home with a silver medal.
Chad le Clos
Before the Games he received news that both of his parents had cancer. But the Durban-born swimmer soldiered on and captured two silver medals to become the greatest swimmer of all time in Africa. He finished second in the men’s 100m butterfly clocking 51.14 seconds and another second place in the men’s 200m freestyle registering 1:45:20.
Usian Bolt
He is simpley the best! Bolt lived up to expectations in a race the whole world had been waiting to see. There were questions as to whether he still had the legs in his third Olympic event after an injury in the build up to the Rio Olympics. But the crowd favourite silenced his critics with a breathtaking performance against a strong field. Bolt took gold with 9.81 seconds, Justine Gatlin of United States took silver with 9.89, while Canadian Andre Grasse settle for a bronze medal clocking 9.91. This is the race that separated the boys from the men and you could tell how much winning meant to Bolt as he did a lap of honour around the stadium.
Michael Phelps
The American is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals. He bowed out of the Olympics with five medals, four of them gold and one silver medal. The king of the pool won the men’s 200m butterfly, men’s 100m butterfly, men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, men’s 4x100m medley relay, and silver in the men’s 100m butterfly. What a legend.
South Africa men’s under-23 vs. Brazil – 0-0 draw
Young Bafana did not progress beyond the group stages, but their goalless draw against Brazil at a packed Mané Garrincha Stadium, Brasilia, in their opening Group A encounter, won the hearts of South Africans. Brazil were led by Barcelona superstar Neymar and 69 000 spectators were in their corner. But Young Bafana, who played the most of the second half with 10 men, produced a result that felt like a win.
Rowing
It’s still regarded as a small sport in Mzansi, but its growing fast. Shaun Keeling and Lawrence Brittain won silver in the men’s coxless pair final at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas in Rio when they registered a time of 7:02:51. Rowing is making its mark in SA sport and now it’s one of the sports expected to contribute to the medal tally at the Olympics.
