Sello Maduma was not unhappy when most members of the media mistook him for the only boxer in the country's Olympic team.
"I'm the fencer," he said, as he settled on the podium to address the newshounds.
Maduma and boxer Jackson Chauke were the only blacks in the first batch of athletes who will represent South Africa in Beijing, announced at the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) head offices in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Only 20, the lad from Mamelodi West in Pretoria drew gasps from most for his choice of sport.
"I've been doing it since 2000," he said, adding that it was his desire to "play with a sword" that attracted him to the sport.
"It's just a unique sport and I love individual sports. I would have taken up golf, but it was not accessible. Also, as a boy, I was attracted by the chance to play with a sword."
While overwhelmed at his inclusion in the squad, Maduma feels he should have gone to Athens four years ago.
"This should be my second Olympics, but because the sport is so expensive I missed out on going to tournaments that would have seen me get high enough in the rankings to be in the squad," he said.
Not that he cannot hide his excitement:
"It's an overwhelming feeling. This is a dream come true for me because I've always wanted to go to the Olympics - even before I got into fencing, when I was still playing soccer."
And he's likely to be overwhelmed by the occasion unless he gets more international exposure. "I've only been to one international event, the world junior championships in Turkey last year, and I did not do well there because it was my first major event.
"I was short-listed for the All Africa Games but I missed out. With the Olympics coming up, I wish I could go to a few training camps overseas."
Maduma is also hoping his attendance at the Olympics will grow the sport in Mamelodi.
"I've tried to get some of the kids in my hometown interested in the sport but it hasn't caught on.
"I'm hoping my attendance at the Olympics will inspire other youngsters to take up the sport."
While not many will give Maduma much chance of winning a medal, expectations will once again be high for the swimming team that includes the usual suspects: Ryk Neethling, Roland Schoeman and Mandy Loots along with newcomers like young Jessica Pengelly.
Sascoc president Moss Mashishi refused to put a figure on the medals target though.
"We've always avoided specific numbers for the medals," said Mashishi.
"But we always urge our athletes to improve on whatever we've achieved in previous events without putting undue pressure on them, lest it affects their performances."