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Sascoc happy with Team SA

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The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) says its cautiously happy with Team South Africa’s six Olympic medals. Sascoc president Gideon Sam says although the country can celebrate the medalists, more needs to be done if we are to be recognised as a sporting powerhouse. South Africa finished as the leading African nation at the 2012 London Olympic Games in 24th position on the final medals table. Rankings are determined primarily by the number of gold medals won, with silver and bronze medal tallies then used to break ties. Team South Africa’s three gold medals, two silver, and one bronze put the country just ahead of Ethiopia, who ended in 25th position, with three gold, one silver and three bronze. Kenya were the next African country, coming 27th on the table with two gold medals. Ethiopia and Kenya had been expected to overhaul South Africa, but did not fare as well as expected in the middle and long distance running events. The USA topped the overall medals table, followed by China and hosts Great Britain. ‘Blade runner’ Oscar Pistorius carried South Africa’s flag at the closing ceremony of the London Olympic Games. The 25-year-old Pistorius became the first double leg amputee to participate in the Olympics when he entered the men’s 400m race and was part of South Africa’s 4×400 metres relay team. He reached the semi-finals in the 400m race, while the relay team made it to the final.

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