Johannesburg – The scene is set for Team South Africa to return from the Rio Olympics with their richest harvest of medals.
The record haul of 10 medals in 1920 and 1952 are under serious threat, given the squad’s excellent blend of experience on the ultimate stage as well as some ominously potent performances over the last two years.
Four years ago in London, Cameron van der Burgh got the ball rolling in the pool and Chad le Clos swiftly followed by stunning Michael Phelps in the breaststroke.
Those two, now even bigger stars on the international stage, are earmarked for yet more success, but it is anticipated they will spark even more success elsewhere.
As ever, it only takes an early taste of success to light the torch paper. Van der Burgh produced it four years ago, but in 2016 it could well be on Saturday in the men’s cycling road race.
Louis Meintjes and Daryl Impey have shown signs of their best form and if one of them could spring an early surprise, the optimism could inspire the rest of the South African village in Rio.
Swimming, as ever, will be one of our strongest chances for medals and both Le Clos and Van der Burgh are quietly confident of repeating their successes.
Indeed, Le Clos feels he is in an even better space now, though he tells himself he is an underdog with everything to prove.
The 4x100m medley relay team, with both Le Clos and Van der Burgh in tow, is listed as a cheeky chance for a medal, and they have been shaving off the milliseconds in their camps in Europe and Fort Lauderdale.
Like every relay, anything can happen on the day and Team SA know that, as long as they qualify for the final.
On the track, South Africa also have two very good prospects for medals.
In fact, in the case of Caster Semenya, the world’s media and her would-be rivals in the women’s 800 metres event have all but handed her the gold medal already.
The bigger challenge for Semenya is to ignore the barracking bound to follow her, especially if she then attempts to do the double, by scooping what will be a far tougher 1?500m. Also on the track, Team South Africa’s official flag-bearer Wayde van Niekerk is the fastest one-lap sprinter in the world, the reigning world champion, and oozing with class and confidence.
That he was bestowed the honour of leading out the country at Friday’s opening ceremony is testament that he is on top of his game, and is expected to underline his pedigree in the men’s 400m.
In the most anticipated race of the entire Games, the men’s 100m, national record-holder Akani Simbine has just shown that anything can happen in 10 seconds, and he will be another trying to inch into the final and give himself a fighting chance.
Elsewhere, Neil Powell’s rugby Sevens outfit have every chance of capturing gold, as they did in the Commonwealth Games two years ago.
Rowing’s lightweight men’s coxless fours (gold) and Bridgitte Hartley (bronze) medalled memorably in London when they surprised their rivals with late charges. Four years on they will be marked boats, but they are still there and confident of being on the podium.
In essence, Team SA are lying ominously in the shadows ready to pounce on a clutch of medals and make Rio 2016 the most memorable Olympics yet for South Africa.
Their exploits, and even the anticipation of them in action, will make staying up into the wee hours well worth it for fans and families back home.
As Van der Burgh’s message gleefully said four years ago: Ke Nako. Finally, it is time.
– The Sunday Independent