Eyewitness News: Team SA to increase medal count

Lelo Mzaca and Govan Whittles | 09 August 2012

JOHANNESBURG - Team South Africa will be hoping for another gold rush in London on Thursday night with two athletes featuring in finals.

Sunette Viljoen is one of the favourites going in to the women's javelin final while Anaso Jobowana will take part in the men's 200m event.

Earlier, kayaker Bridgitte Hartley became the first South African woman to win a medal at the London Games.

She bagged a bronze in the single 500m race.

Hartley described it as the hardest race of her life.

“I actually wasn’t sure because I have never raced in the middle lane of a final in my life.”

Hartley’s family said they have high expectations for her career.

Eyewitness News watched the race with them.

Hartley’s uncle John said he wished he was in London to support her.

“I would have made sure she started a little quicker.”

He said the family is thrilled with her Olympic performance.

“I’m excited - She's third in the world. She did very, very well.”

Hartley competed in two previous Olympic Games and her family said they were confident she will compete in the next Games.

Meanwhile, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) said its delighted that South Africa’s 4x400m relay team will be able to run in the final after winning their appeal.

The team crashed out of their heat earlier, but a review proved that Ofentse Mogawane was tripped.

The team will compete in the final on Friday.

Sascoc's Tubby Reddy is looking forward to the final.

“Once you’re in the final there’s always an opportunity. I’m sure the coaches will look into the team and put forward the best people to compete.”

It was also a big day for gold medalists Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh who returned home with South Africa’s swimming team.

They were given a hero's welcome at OR Tambo International Airport where hundreds of fans turned up to meet the country's new heroes.

Tonight's Team SA medal hopefuls: Anaso Jobodwana - 200m at 21:55, Sunette Viljoen - Javelin at 22:00 and Willem Coertzen - Decathlon 1500m at 22:20.

On Air

Latest Bulletin

Latest Traffic report

Weather

23°C / 7°C

Sun 23°C 6°C

Mon 23°C 3°C

Tue 23°C 3°C

Wed 23°C 3°C

Thu 23°C 3°C

Fri 23°C 4°C

24°C / 9°C

Sun 25°C 10°C

Mon 25°C 12°C

Tue 25°C 12°C

Wed 19°C 13°C

Thu 18°C 12°C

Fri 20°C 11°C

23°C / 15°C

Sun 23°C 13°C

Mon 26°C 14°C

Tue 27°C 15°C

Wed 27°C 15°C

Thu 26°C 15°C

Fri 27°C 14°C

23°C / 7°C

Sun 26°C 10°C

Mon 25°C 11°C

Tue 26°C 9°C

Wed 24°C 12°C

Thu 20°C 11°C

Fri 19°C 9°C

21°C / 8°C

Sun 19°C 8°C

Mon 21°C 8°C

Tue 22°C 8°C

Wed 22°C 7°C

Thu 22°C 8°C

Fri 23°C 9°C

19°C / 15°C

Sun 22°C 13°C

Mon 25°C 12°C

Tue 25°C 11°C

Wed 26°C 12°C

Thu 27°C 13°C

Fri 26°C 14°C

28°C / 11°C

Sun 29°C 11°C

Mon 28°C 10°C

Tue 28°C 11°C

Wed 25°C 9°C

Thu 23°C 8°C

Fri 21°C 7°C

21°C / 10°C

Sun 27°C 14°C

Mon 23°C 15°C

Tue 26°C 16°C

Wed 24°C 14°C

Thu 20°C 12°C

Fri 19°C 11°C

23°C / 11°C

Sun 21°C 10°C

Mon 24°C 8°C

Tue 23°C 8°C

Wed 23°C 7°C

Thu 24°C 8°C

Fri 24°C 9°C

22°C / 9°C

Sun 21°C 7°C

Mon 22°C 7°C

Tue 23°C 8°C

Wed 23°C 7°C

Thu 23°C 7°C

Fri 24°C 5°C

21°C / 9°C

Sun 25°C 10°C

Mon 24°C 12°C

Tue 24°C 12°C

Wed 20°C 10°C

Thu 19°C 10°C

Fri 19°C 9°C

19°C / 7°C

Sun 19°C 6°C

Mon 22°C 5°C

Tue 23°C 5°C

Wed 23°C 4°C

Thu 23°C 5°C

Fri 23°C 5°C

My items

To view 'My Items', click here to register/log in

Recommended for you

No articles have been recommended for you, please check again later

Email a Friend

Team SA to increase medal count

Multimedia