President Jacob Zuma has congratulated South African swimmer Chad Le Clos on winning a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Le Clos scooped the medal last night for South Africa. He’s the surprise winner of the 200 metres butterfly event, after beating America’s Michael Phelps in the 200-metres butterfly
The Presidency says: “We know it is early days in the games, but with two gold medals already our country is counted among the best sporting nations in the world.”
The Inkhatha Freedom Party (IFP) also added their well wishes, “his win is a great example to the youth of our country that with hard work and determination, they can also achieve their goals and aspirations.”
The National Assembly’s Sport and Recreation Committee congratulated South Africa’s first two 2012 London Olympics gold medalists.
“These two gold medalists have made the whole country proud,” Whip Mgolodi Dikgacwi said in a statement on behalf of the committee.
KwaZulu-Natal sport and recreation MEC Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha congratulated Olympian Chad le Clos as well. Sibhidla-Saphetha said in a statement, that Le Clos has demonstrated to other South African athletes that nothing is impossible and they hope that other athletes will be inspired by his performance and bring more medals home.
This victory comes just after swimmer Cameron van der Burgh won the first gold medal in the men’s 100 metre breaststroke competition.
South Africa is currently tenth in the medal tally, ahead of the likes of Australia and Great Britain.- Additional reporting by SAPA
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