Heroic return for SA athletics team with 36 medals

It was a heroic return to home soil on Tuesday night for the national team after landing at OR Tambo International Airport with the biggest haul of medals from a CAA African Senior Athletics Championships since 1993.

In Mauritius, South Africa secured a total of 36 podium places made of 9 golds, 13 silvers, 14 bronze to finish runners-up behind Kenya in the final standings. Kenya, who retained the continental crown, won 10 golds having secured only 23 medals in total.

The airport went into a temporary standstill as families, fans and other passengers, welcomed the team as they trooped in to a thundering atmosphere of screams and sounds vuvuzelas.

It was tears of joy for some as the atmosphere unfolded into song and dance.

“These are our heroes and heroines that we welcome back to the country,” said a joyous James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa. “They didn’t give up and remained focussed even when the weather was harsh and unfriendly. They fought on until the end. That is what the true Mzansi spirit is made of.

“We thank the whole team for the highest number of medals ever at the African championship and we will use this as an inspiration to fight for the next African Senior Athletics Championships. This gives us hope of inspiring performances at the World Athletics Championships next month in Oregon, USA and the Commonwealth Games in England in August. It was very encouraging to see that a lot of our young athletes are making the world to pay attention.”

South Africa’s medallists are: In gold:Werner Visser (men’s discus), Mire Reinstorf (women’s pole vault), Zeney van der Walt (women’s 400m hurdles & 4x400m relay), Miranda Coetzee (women’s 400m & 4x400m relay), Taylon Bieldt (women’s 4x400m relay), Precious Molepo (4x400m relay), Sokwakhana Zazini (men's 400m hurdles), Jo-Ane van Dyk (javelin), Allan Cumming (men's hammer throw), Ischke Senekal (women's shot put).

Silver medal winners: Victor Hogan (Victor Hogan men’s discus), Taylon Bieldt (women’s 400m H), Kyle Blignaut (men's shot put), Ryan Mphahlele (men's 1 500m), Wayne Snyman (men's 20km walk), McKyla van der Westhuizen (javelin), Fredriech Pretorius (decathlon), Henricho Bruintjies, Cheswill Johnson, Antonio Alkana and Benjamin Richardson (men’s 4x100m), Marzaan Loots, Banele Shabangu, Charlize Eilerd and Phindile Khubheka (women’s 4x100m), Tshepang Makhethe (men's hammer throw), Cheswill Johnson (men’s long jump), Shannon Verster (heptathlon), Akani Simbine (men’s 100m).

Bronze medallists: Clarence Munyai (men’s 200m), runner Prudence Sekgodiso (women’s 800m), Mpho Links (men’s high jump), 2.15m) and javelin thrower Phil-Mar Janse van Rensburg (javelin)74.10m), Jana van Schalkwyk (javelin), Jesse Perez (decathlon), Valco van Wyk (pole vault), Zonica Lindeque (women’s shot put), Yvonne Robson (women's high jump), Henricho Bruintjies (men’s 100m), Carina Horn (women’s 100m), Marione Fourie (women’s 100m H), Antonio Alkana (men’s 110m H).