SA WRAP: Sensational Smith and Hatherly add gold and bronze to Team SA haul

Tatjana Smith came into the Paris Olympics with the expectations of the nation on her shoulders and duly delivered in spectacular come-from-behind style, earning Team South Africa’s first gold medal of the Games in the 100m breaststroke.

Smith looked out of medal contention when she turned after the first 50m in fourth place but produced an exceptional performance to fight her way to a gold medal, taking the win in a time of 1:05.28.

Chinese favourite Qianting Tang, who has recorded the fastest 100m breaststroke time in the world this year, finished second in 1:05.54 while Ireland’s Mona McSharry took the bronze in 1:05.59.

This was something of a case of unfinished business for Smith, who could have taken gold in this same event in Tokyo three years ago, had she swum the time she did in the earlier heats, but settled for silver behind surprise winner Lydia Jacoby of the USA.

This time she made sure of the victory and in doing so, kept her hopes alive of becoming only the second swimmer in history after Penny Heyns in 1996 to successfully complete the 100m and 200m breaststroke double at the Olympics, should she successfully defend her title in the longer event.

🇿🇦🥇WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN GOLD @Olympics 🇿🇦🥇 #TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics pic.twitter.com/1XP6QJwWli
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) July 29, 2024

“I had no idea where I was, literally most of the race,” admitted Smith afterwards. “I actually didn't think I medalled because when I turned to my left, the two blocks next to me both had lights on and it felt like someone else on the other side touched first.

“So I actually didn't think I was medalling.

“My main goal was just to not do what I did in Tokyo and look around, so literally the last 15 metres, I was like, no, close your eyes, let's just go.”

“I swam for everyone that’s been there for me, that’s believed with me, for our country as well.” 🥺

🇿🇦 Tatjana Smith reflects on her Olympic Gold 👇#Paris2024 | #CloserToYourChampions pic.twitter.com/httAs7coTY
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 29, 2024

'PROUD AND GRATEFUL' COETZE

The other South African swimmer in action on Monday night was 100m backstroker Pieter Coetzé, who competed in his first Olympic final.

He set a new African record of 52.58 seconds but that was only good enough for fifth place.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞! 😤🇿🇦

Although he misses out on an Olympic medal, South Africa's Pieter Coetze sets a new African record in the Men's 100m Backstroke. pic.twitter.com/WfRHX9DHV4
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 29, 2024

Italian Thomas Ceccon took the gold in 52.00 with Jiayu Xu claiming silver in 52.32 and American Ryan Murphy the bronze in 52.39

“I’m definitely proud of myself and I'm just grateful for the opportunity to even be here,” said Coetzé afterwards.

“So obviously it would have been nice to get a medal, but I can't let that play in my mind too much.”

The 20-year-old will now set his sights on a medal in the 200m backstroke, but said he was honoured to have been at the pool to witness his teammate, Smith, racing to another Olympic gold.

“I'm super happy for her. I was just saying she's a great role model and I've gotten to know her much better on this trip, and I love learning from her, so to see that was a big honour for me as well,” he said, adding that he never doubted she’d win the gold.

“100 per cent, because I know she's got the 200m background and the other ladies in that race were a bit more sprinters as far as I know. So when it’s close like that I’ll always back Tats to come back and win.”

Earlier in the day at the Elancourt Hill track, SA rider Alan Hatherly fought his way to a bronze medal in the men’s mountain biking.

The 28-year-old had a great start, blazing to the front of the pack and holding on to the lead by the end of the first of eight laps. He then dropped down but steadily worked his way back into medal contention.

When defending champion Tom Pidcock suffered a puncture to his front tyre on the fourth lap, Hatherly inherited second spot behind France’s Victor Koretzky. But the British rider did phenomenally well to claw his way back to the front as a massive battle between the three developed.

Pidcock held his nerve to roar to victory in 1:26.22, much to the French crowd’s disappointment, with Koretzky finishing second, nine seconds later and Hatherly crossing the line 11 seconds behind Pidcock.

🚴‍♂️ Alan Hatherley! 🥉🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics #AlanHatherley #MountainBiking #BronzeMedal pic.twitter.com/HX07jXpKTL
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) July 29, 2024

While Hatherly was elated to add to Team SA’s medal haul, he couldn’t hide his disappointment at missing out on the gold.

“I mean, unbelievable race. I think right now I’m a bit bleak that gold was so close. But I definitely left everything out there and bronze was all I could do today and I'm happy with that,” he said afterwards.

“I fought all the way through to the end and I think I rode a smart race, pacing it well. You have to be in that battle all the way to the finish… and to finish off with bronze, I'm going home smiling, so happy days.”

FIRST SA CYCLIST TO MEDAL SINCE 1956

Hatherly added that he had suffered in the 30-plus-degree heat in a race that started just after 2pm.

“It was a super tactical race and I think it was really hard to manage the heat. For me, I got really hot when the race started to split, so it was just managing that, and then in the end there, it was all out and whatever you had left.”

In claiming the bronze, Hatherly became the first South African cyclist to stand on an Olympic podium since 1956. He was also the first African rider and first non-European man to win a medal in mountain biking at the Games.

Elsewhere, the SA women’s hockey team came close to upsetting world No 2 Argentina, taking a 2-1 lead into the final quarter. But they conceded three goals in four minutes to eventually go down 4-2.

🏑Full-Time 🏑#TeamSA women's hockey team fought hard to the end!#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics pic.twitter.com/mNyyyKsgP7
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) July 29, 2024

The women’s sevens team also squandered a lead against Great Britain in their final pool game to lose 26.17. Later in the evening they came up against Japan in the playoff for ninth to 12th place and also went down 15-12. That means they’ll play Fiji for 11th spot on Tuesday.