With the South African team already pulling off three gold medals in the sixth day of the 2012 Olympics game held in London, inspired athletes are at their feet, focused at showing the rest of the world that South Africa is more than what the media portray them to be. Speaking to VOC Sports Live, Patience Shikwambana, the official spokesperson for the South African Olympic Team, said the team has been inspired and determined since the achievements of their team mates.
“It was a celebration when we received our first gold medal from Cameron van der Burgh. All the South African athletes had really made us proud thus far and the team have been doing really good throwing out such exceptional results at this year’s game," she said. The SA team is focused on increasing the amount of medals gained at the games.
“Let’s look at what we have in our country, look at our talents and ask people to come and assist us. We have exceptional talent amongst our youth especially and many of them are at this year’s game. We are going to use some of the achievements of this team and see how we can build us up from where we are now.” She said that the team is aiming to improve the corners they had missed out on during the last Olympic games held in Beijing a few years ago.
“We want to continue and change what we left out at the Beijing Olympics. This year’s achievements had really inspired many of the athletes here in London, mostly the youth as well as our athletes back in South Africa. Many of them said that they are going for it and that they will try their best, as anything is possible,” she said.
She added that with this year’s game, while the team goes through the various rounds of the competition, they will also be keeping a close eye on the performances of athletes. “We want to monitor these athletes and assess as well, because come 2020 for the next Olympics, we will know what needs to be worked on. We need to evaluate on the areas that needs to be worked on and look at how we going to improve it."
Shikwambana pointed out that with the team’s success, people will be able to see the country in another way. “The guys have been doing really well, and Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos being the first South African men to win individual gold medals in Olympic swimming, is another extra that inspired the athletes to push harder showing the world that SA has more to it,” she said.
Shikwambana said that they have not yet overcome any security problems and said that the team is strictly adhering to London’s rules. “We have punted a strict order to the athletes and encouraged them to behave the same way that they have when they left South Africa. To the people who are planning on coming down to London to support us, please do the same as well and respect the country's rules. Please show the world our excellencies in discipline,” she urged.
In the meantime, Shikwambana said they are trying to keep Caster Semenya out of the media for this year’s game. “Caster needs to be focused and we want to make sure that she is not exposed to the media as many questions are being asked about her. She has been very clear to the media and said that she wants to be focused on the game. However, I must say that she is doing very well and I’m proud of her,” she said, urging the youth back home in South Africa to engage in sports activities as soon as possible.
“We want to work with the youth and punt to them that if they start training now, there is a great possibility for them to get the opportunity to participate in the 2020 Olympics. We only hope that these athletes are going to show us more of their potential and that they going to get us far in this year’s game. It takes a lot of hard work and focus for the team and I’m positive that they will do a great job at this year’s game. To our South African supporters as well, thanks for standing behind us for this inspires the team to focus, with the aims of bringing home these medals.” VOC (Aishah Cassiem)
“It was a celebration when we received our first gold medal from Cameron van der Burgh. All the South African athletes had really made us proud thus far and the team have been doing really good throwing out such exceptional results at this year’s game," she said. The SA team is focused on increasing the amount of medals gained at the games.
“Let’s look at what we have in our country, look at our talents and ask people to come and assist us. We have exceptional talent amongst our youth especially and many of them are at this year’s game. We are going to use some of the achievements of this team and see how we can build us up from where we are now.” She said that the team is aiming to improve the corners they had missed out on during the last Olympic games held in Beijing a few years ago.
“We want to continue and change what we left out at the Beijing Olympics. This year’s achievements had really inspired many of the athletes here in London, mostly the youth as well as our athletes back in South Africa. Many of them said that they are going for it and that they will try their best, as anything is possible,” she said.
She added that with this year’s game, while the team goes through the various rounds of the competition, they will also be keeping a close eye on the performances of athletes. “We want to monitor these athletes and assess as well, because come 2020 for the next Olympics, we will know what needs to be worked on. We need to evaluate on the areas that needs to be worked on and look at how we going to improve it."
Shikwambana pointed out that with the team’s success, people will be able to see the country in another way. “The guys have been doing really well, and Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos being the first South African men to win individual gold medals in Olympic swimming, is another extra that inspired the athletes to push harder showing the world that SA has more to it,” she said.
Shikwambana said that they have not yet overcome any security problems and said that the team is strictly adhering to London’s rules. “We have punted a strict order to the athletes and encouraged them to behave the same way that they have when they left South Africa. To the people who are planning on coming down to London to support us, please do the same as well and respect the country's rules. Please show the world our excellencies in discipline,” she urged.
In the meantime, Shikwambana said they are trying to keep Caster Semenya out of the media for this year’s game. “Caster needs to be focused and we want to make sure that she is not exposed to the media as many questions are being asked about her. She has been very clear to the media and said that she wants to be focused on the game. However, I must say that she is doing very well and I’m proud of her,” she said, urging the youth back home in South Africa to engage in sports activities as soon as possible.
“We want to work with the youth and punt to them that if they start training now, there is a great possibility for them to get the opportunity to participate in the 2020 Olympics. We only hope that these athletes are going to show us more of their potential and that they going to get us far in this year’s game. It takes a lot of hard work and focus for the team and I’m positive that they will do a great job at this year’s game. To our South African supporters as well, thanks for standing behind us for this inspires the team to focus, with the aims of bringing home these medals.” VOC (Aishah Cassiem)
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