Team South African wrapped up the IAAF World Championships in London this past Sunday in style with Caster Semenya once more showing the world her dominance in the 800m Women final.
Semenya collected a gold medal therefore increasing our medal tally to 6 (3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) and ending up number 3 on the IAAF World Championships medal table. South Africa follows United States who acquired 30 medals and Kenya 11.
Minister of Sport and Recreation SA, Minister TW Nxesi in his congratulatory message stated the following:
Congratulations are in order to the entire team including Caster Semenya as she continued to carry our flag high in adding to our gold medal tally in the 800m women final and further by collecting a bronze medal in the 1500m women final, serving as a great ambassador to all our woman athletes.
Both her achievements couldn’t have come at a better time as we continue with our Woman Month celebrations.
I also take this opportunity to further congratulate the following athletes for flying our flag high and for ensuring that we ended up on top three in the medal standings IAAF World Championships: Our golden boy Wayde Van Niekerk for pocketing both 400m gold and 200m silver, Luvo Manyonga for collecting gold and Ruswahl Samaai for his Bronze.
I know that the country is waiting in anticipation for the return of all our athletes so that they can be afforded the hero’s welcome which they deserve. Unfortunately, due to their hectic calendar it won’t be anytime soon as they still need to take part in the Diamond League scheduled in a few weeks’ time.
Lastly, but not the least congratulations to the entire Athletics South Africa team including those that didn’t secure medals, I urge them to go back and once more, work extra hard.
As for those who will be attending the Diamond League, they must go out there and represent the country well and we would be waiting in anticipation. - Minister TW Nxesi.
Enquiries:
Sabelo Mali
Cell: 082 729 5804
E-mail: Sabelo@srsa.gov.za
