Team South Africa won six medals at the Paris Olympics, earning some healthy financial rewards for their efforts.
Team South Africa concluded the 2024 Paris Olympics with an impressive haul of six medals.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) had announced financial incentives for the country’s athletes prior to the Games, rewarding them for their performances on the global stage.
The stand out performance came from swimmer Tatjana Smith, who secured the nation’s only gold medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke. Smith further contributed to South Africa’s tally by winning a silver medal in the women’s 200m breaststroke, demonstrating her exceptional talent in the pool.
In addition to Smith’s achievements, South Africa earned two more silver medals: one from the men’s 4x100m relay team and another from Jo-Ane van Dyk in the women’s javelin event. Alan Hatherly added to the medal count with a bronze in the men’s mountain bike cross-country, while the rugby sevens team clinched the final bronze medal for the country.
Tatjana Smith clinched South Africa’s only gold medal for the women’s 100m breaststroke event.
Athlete: R400,000
Coach: R100,000
Tatjana Smith also won silver for the women’s 200m breaststroke event; other silver winners were the men’s 4x100m relay team and Jo-Ane van Dyk for the women’s javelin event.
Athletes: R200,000 each (for individual events)
Relay Team: R75,000 per athlete
Coaches: R50,000 each (for individual events)
Relay Team Coach: R75,000
Alan Hatherly won a bronze medal for the men’s mountain bike cross country along with the rugby sevens team.
Athletes: R75,000 each (for individual events)
Rugby Sevens Team: R50,000 per player
Coaches: R25,000 each (for individual events)
Team Coach: R50,000
South Africa finished in joint 44th place on the medals table, sharing the position with countries like Jamaica. Kenya led the African nations with a total of 11 medals, including four golds. Other African countries that made the medals table include Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia, while Nigeria, despite sending 88 athletes, did not secure any medals.
The next Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles in 2028.
IOL