Jo-Ane van Dyk added a sixth medal to South Africa’s Olympic haul by securing a silver medal in the women’s javelin throw on Saturday night. Van Dyk, a four-time African Championships medallist, showcased her skill and determination, delivering a stunning throw of 63.93m in the final.
This impressive throw was just 29cm short of her personal best of 64.22m, set during the qualifying round. Van Dyk’s remarkable performance saw her finish second behind Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi, who won the gold medal with a throw of 65.80m.
Jo-Ane’s silver medal marks a significant milestone in her career, solidifying her position as one of the world’s top javelin throwers. This achievement not only highlights her talent but also her relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to the sport.
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On the same day, Brian Raats, competing in the men’s high jump, managed to clear 2.17m but unfortunately did not progress further, finishing in 12th place. In the men’s marathon, Elroy Gelant and Stephen Mokoka represented South Africa with strong performances, finishing 11th and 27th, respectively.
Hamish Lovemore also had a commendable showing in the kayak singles (canoeing), winning the B final with a time of 3:27.94 after placing eighth in the semifinal. In women’s golf, Ashleigh Buhai tied for 13th place with a score of three-under-par, while Paula Reto tied for 44th place.
Steyn de Lange, competing in the men’s 97kg wrestling division, was defeated in the round of 16 by Georgia’s Givi Matcharashvili. Meanwhile, in track cycling, Jean Spies competed in the men’s keirin, but his Olympic journey ended before the quarterfinals.
