Bianca Buitendag and Tatjana Schoenmaker making South Africa proud.
Tokyo, Japan (4 August 2021) – Tokyo Olympics has seen a rise of champions from South Africa in every sport. With high hopes and determination, the competitors took part with zeal and passion in the sport. In the end, the results have stunned people around the globe.
South Africa has garnered a grand total of three medals; two silver, and one gold, along with a new world record.
Bianca Buitendag, the skilled surfer from South Africa, after her stunning win against the seven-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore, cleared the next rounds efficiently, reaching the finals, where she faced off with Carissa Moore from the US.
The victory took place at 09:31 am on the 27th of July. After an intense competition where the two women gave it their all, the results have made it out. This came shortly after her stunning win against Stephanie Gilmore, the seven-time world champion from Australia with a noteworthy 7.10 in the first wave and 6.83 in the second wave to total 13.93, beating Gilmore by 3.93 points; Buitendag continued her successful string of victory, beating Portugal’s Yolanda Hopkins 9.50 to 5.46 in her quarter-finals.
Buitendag was ranked as high as world No.4 in 2014 but hasn’t had full-time status since 2016 and secured Olympic qualification through the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games.
Her welcome back to South Africa has been grand, with many gathered in George Airport on Saturday awaiting her return.
Tatjana Schoenmaker, the talented swimmer competing from South Africa, has drowned her people in joy with the grand win of two medals and a new world record.
In a gripping finale at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre, the 24-year-old won gold in the 200-meter breaststroke, prompting elation and celebration. She also smashed the world record. Her achievement in the event, which came at the end of a punishing schedule and will go down in history as one of South Africa’s greatest Olympic swims.
Not only this, the young woman has been awarded the silver medal for women’s 100m breaststroke, adding to the grandiose of her back-to-back wins.
These two women have brought immense happiness and pride to their nation. These wins have inspired various people across South Africa, and next year is expected to have a broader range of participants representing our country.
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