ANC celebrates our sport heroes

15 August 2016

ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman rejoices with all South African athletes who brought honour to this province and our country and also those who kept the South African flag flying high.

Fransman says the Olympic gold medal performance by Kraaifontein raised sprinter Wayde van Niekerk started with a great win at the Beijing Games and culminated last night at the Rio Games where he shattered the 400m men’s world record which stood for almost two decades!

"I received a great birthday present this morning when Van Niekerk showed why he was also the standard bearer for all South Africans at the Rio Games opening. When some depressing people try to reduce South Africa to the rubbish dump, compatriots like Van Niekerk comes through to uplift the national spirit and make us all proud again. South Africans are such special people and deserve much better than the negativity certain people constantly pump down our throats!

“I also want to salute Wayde’s mother, the struggle sport icon Odessa Swarts (nee Krause) who refused to take part in apartheid sport but had to content with underdeveloped or uneven infrastructure and his athlete father Wayne van Niekerk who also laid an early foundation for him to build on. His present trainer 74-year-old Tannie Ans Botha also deserves our gratitude for her dedication.

"I particularly want to mention Paarl long jumper Luvo Manyongo who overcame adversity and substance dependency to win the silver medal. It is these heart-warming accounts of the true spirit of South Africa that makes me and all citizens so proud today. Every athlete who made it to any position or who did their best deserves the thanks of our nation for taking part and flying flag South Africa so high!”

Issued by Vanessa le Roux, 15 August 2016