• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Features London 2012 Olympics Latest News

SA woman bags bronze at London Olympics

9 August 2012, 7:17 PM  |
News Publisher News Publisher |  @SABCNews
Hartley becomes the first SA woman to win an Olympic medal since 2004 Picture:REUTERS

Hartley becomes the first SA woman to win an Olympic medal since 2004 Picture:REUTERS

Hartley becomes the first SA woman to win an Olympic medal since 2004 Picture:REUTERS

As the country celebrates Women’s Day, a South African woman has kept the nations’ flag flying high at the London Summer Olympics. Bridgitte Hartley claimed the bronze medal in the Kayak single 500 metres race, bringing South Africa’s medals tally to five. Hartley lined-up on the Eton Dorney course full of confidence after finishing first in her semi-final. She had a solid start and by the 250 metre mark was holding strong in fourth. One of Hartley’s hallmarks has always been her powerful finishing, and she held off the sustained challenge of both Sweden and Italy for a well deserved third place, recording a time of 1:52.92. After her achievement, Hartley said she is speechless, saying after her heats and semis she realised she had a chance at a medal. She confesses that she hardly slept last night, owing to nerves. She becomes the first South African woman bagging an Olympic medal since 2004, when Hestrie Cloete won silver in the high jump at Athens. Her achievement also completes the set for South Africa in London, having won three golds, one silver and now a bronze. At this games, it certainly seems that the country excels in all things water-related.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s Danuta Kozak was out of reach for the gold and Ukraine’s Inna Osypenko-Radomska second.

In other games, Willem Coertzen did well to improve his position early on in the men’s decathlon. He moved into ninth place in the multi-code event — after winning his heat in the 110meters hurdles with a personal best time of 14 point 1 5 seconds. But despite another personal best performance in the discus throw — he dropped to 10th place overall — after ranking fifth with a throw of 43 point 58 meters. After the pole vault, where he could only manage a height of 4 point five meters, the South African dropped to 13th position. Swimmer Jessica Roux was unable to finish the women’s 10 kilometers open water event. The nineteen year old from Port Elizabeth — who was at the back of the field for most of the race — quit after just over an hour and 20 minutes, having completed only three laps in Hyde Park’s Serpentine Lake. And finally, cyclist Sifiso Nhlapo failed to qualify for tomorrow’s semi-final in the men’s BMX. Nhlapo only mananged a rank of eighth in five runs during today’s quarter final.

– By Simon Burke

Share article
Previous Post

Van der Burg dismisses cheating reports

Next Post

Caster Semenya makes her villagers proud

Related Posts

A weekly look at tech innovations and its impact.

TECH IMPACT: Cybercrime and emerging technologies growing threats to SA’s banking sector

8 August 2022, 8:56 PM
A road littered with bricks, debris and burning tyres in Tembisa, 03 August 2022.

A drizzle that fails to put out fires in protest-torn Tembisa

4 August 2022, 11:50 AM
South African rands displayed.

It’s problematic that ANC does not discuss macro-economic policy: Economist

1 August 2022, 12:00 PM
Minister Lindiwe Sisulu addressing an event.

Not enough is done to protect women: Sisulu

1 August 2022, 6:13 AM
ANC logo on display at Nasrec Exhibition Centre in Soweto ahead of the ANC's Policy Conference.

LISTICLE: Policy proposals from the ANC’s conference

31 July 2022, 6:15 PM
KZN ANC members  attend the Provincial conference in Durban, July 23, 2022

Middle class does not care about equality, they are educated to conform: Analyst

31 July 2022, 5:11 PM
Next Post
Caster Semenya through to the 800m final Picture:REUTERS

Caster Semenya makes her villagers proud

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • Elon Musk says he is buying Manchester United
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds
  • Home Affairs tightens rules on passport application to curb corruption
  • 14-year-old Eastern Cape learner facing arm amputation after allegedly taking COVID-19 vaccine
  • Home Affairs clamps down on passport fraud and introduces transit visas
  • Mogalakwena Municipality in Limpopo directed to terminate appointment of more than 400 workers
  • Elon Musk says he is buying Manchester United
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds

LATEST

[File Image] 31-year-old Fees Must Fall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile sitting in court.
  • South Africa

Bonginkosi Khanyile’s civil unrest case back in court


Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, who pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault of acclaimed author Salman Rushdie, appears in booking photographs at Chautauqua County Jail in Mayville, New York, US August 12, 2022.
  • World

Salman Rushdie attack suspect pleads not guilty to attempted murder, assault


The dollar index rose 0.121% to 107.620, after earlier touching 107.68, its highest since July 18.
  • Business

Dollar hits 1-month high as Fed officials talk up rate hikes


World number one Daniil Medvedev.
  • Sport

Medvedev grinds down Shapovalov in Cincinnati


Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
  • Business

UK’s Liz Truss says defining mission will be reviving the economy


Volume on US exchanges was last at 9.43 billion shares, which would be the lowest for the year so far.
  • Business

Wall St ends higher, Cisco Systems jumps after forecast


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Van der Burg dismisses cheating reports
Next Caster Semenya makes her villagers proud