A very special silver for Viljoen

RIO: As the world’s best female javelin throwers inched closer to Sunette Viljoen’s leading mark, long-time coach Terseus Liebenberg had no doubts his charge would win a medal.

Viljoen’s opening throw of 64.92m brought back memories of London 2012, where she did the same in the final only to see her grip on a bronze medal slip in the final round.

As each round progressed Viljoen’s face would reflect agony instead of the smile she wore after her first heave.

“No, I was not really nervous,” said Liebenberg, who has been coaching Viljoen since she left school. “Sunette said to me before this competition that she’s got this one, she’s in control, and especially in control of her emotions, and I trusted her 100 percent.”

He added: “Any of the eight women in the final could win the competition, so Sunette was on the evening brilliant – brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.”

Viljoen’s grip on the gold medal lasted for three rounds until Croatia’s Sara Kolak put in a heave of 66.18m. Viljoen managed to hold on to the silver for two more nerve-racking turns.

Both Liebenberg and Viljoen beamed when they saw each other for the first time after she had won the medal.

Liebenberg could not wipe the smile off his face as he looked at Viljoen like a proud parent.

Viljoen made her senior debut aged 19 at the 2003 World Championships in Paris.

Her Rio sojourn was her fourth appearance at the Olympics after she made her debut in Athens in 2004.

Liebenberg paid tribute to Viljoen for the perseverance she had shown over the years, especially after she missed a medal in London by 38cm.

“After the disappointment of London 2012, with the fourth place, to come back fighting four years later to take the silver – I take my hat off to that wonderful, wonderful lady. Brilliant,” he said.