Tatjana’s gold: inspiration for a jaded nation

All of SA joins Tatjana Schoenmaker in celebrating her momentous Olympic gold medal in the 200m breaststroke at the Tokyo games. And today, by the time you read this, we will know whether SA’s fastest man, Akani Simbine, has made it to the men’s 100m sprint finals.

Schoenmaker participated in the world sport showpiece, delayed for a year by the pandemic, along with 174 other South African athletes participating in 17 of the 33 sports codes, our biggest squad yet.

That size will translate into success seems unlikely, however. Schoenmaker’s gold and her silver in the 100m breaststroke are to be added to the silver medal that George surfer Bianca Buitendag will bring home after her finals surfoff, leaving us some way off the 10 medals we won in Rio.

With much to weigh us down as a nation, such as Covid, the paralysis stunting our economy, and the looting and unrest last month, we take victories where we can. And the joy of Schoenmaker and her family is all of ours.

Amid SA’s acrid politics and race-baiting, which play out against a backdrop of deprivation and hopelessness, sport offers a tantalising glimpse into a world where effort is rewarded and excellence alone counts.

Schoenmaker’s achievement, after years of training and dedication, is a welcome lift for a country down in the dumps.

May we emulate her in striving for excellence, so that we as a nation may, like her, once again wave our flag high.