Good medal haul could be better

EXCUSE us for being greedy, but while Team South Africa is basking in the glory of its most successful Olympics since readmission, it is worth remembering it could have been even better.

Nine medals so far – and there is every chance of a 10th if Caster Semenya wins a second gold tomorrow morning – means Rio 2016 is comfortably the country’s most successful Games since rejoining the Olympic family for Barcelona in 1992. South Africa’s best haul was six medals – one gold, three silver and two bronze at Athens in 2004.

The athletes and the SA Sports Confederation & Olympic Committee (Sascoc), as well as all the coaches, physios, medical staff and other support staff must take credit for making this a golden year for South Africa.

But as focus shifts from Rio to Tokyo in 2020, nine or 10 could easily have been higher, and the target over the next four years and on to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban must be to raise that number even more.

Two rowing crews finished fourth, and swimmer Chad le Clos and triathlete Richard Murray both also suffered the heartbreak of finishing in the first place outside the medals – we were close to 11, 12 or even 13 medals and that must be the 2020 target.

As always, Sascoc has been criticised for too many free-loading officials, selection criteria that are too harsh, too little support for athletes, and official clothing that looks decidedly third world. The question that needs to be asked is whether our athletes have been successful this year because of Sascoc’s support, or despite the lack of it?

There is no doubt Sascoc will take credit, and deserves some, but there is enough evidence to suggest our sportsmen and women could do with more backing – financial, administrative and otherwise – from the official body.

With that, 20 medals from 2020 could become a reality.