Mike Greenaway
The Blitzboks’ bronze medal finish in Paris at the weekend has confirmed them as one of Team South Africa’s most valuable assets.
The sevens stars showed tremendous courage and skill to earn South Africa a second podium finish over the past three Olympic Games.
A semi-final loss against eventual gold medallists France did not break the South African spirit and the team, coached by Philip Snyman and captained by Selvyn Davids, bounced back to beat Australia for the bronze medal at the Stade de France.
Snyman, a member of the 2016 squad that won a medal in the inaugural rugby sevens event, said the credit should go to the players.
“We have a great management, and this win was for all South Africans, but the moment belongs to the players. I am so proud of them and what they achieved here today,” said Snyman.
“We had our ups and downs, especially on the first day, but the way the team came back on the following two competition days made me so proud.
“We had our lapses and could have been in the final, but all that matters will be the bronze medals they earned today. It is so deserved for a group of guys who never stopped working and playing for their country.
“We were gutted after the France defeat, but the players showed huge courage to come out and fight for that bronze medal against Australia. I am so proud of them, as I am sure South Africa will be for our first medal at the Paris Games.”
For Blitzbok captain Selvyn Davids, the completion of the journey to a medal was a proud moment: “We had to come such a long way. We needed to qualify through the repechage tournament just to get to Paris, and we were the last team in.
“We were almost down and out earlier in the year, but what a comeback and what a fight by this group. It is so satisfying to see us playing to our potential and be proud Olympic medallists.
“We are proud of this medal and achievement and to know that we have done our system justice and have given South Africans something to smile about is a good feeling.”
Rosko Specman became the first rugby player to earn two medals at the Olympics and the second meant as much to him as the first he achieved in Rio in 2016.
“What a journey it has been for me, to earn two medals eight years apart – that is special,” said Specman.
“But even more special is the journey we had to get to this point — from the dark moments in Harare, where we missed out on qualification, to Monaco, where we used our final chance.
“We may have been the last team in, but we are bronze medallists. Well done to the coaches and management who got this group to believe it is possible. And on a personal note, I would like to thank God who gave me this chance to earn a second medal in the Olympics.”