2024 will be etched in the memories of the country’s elite athletes and Olympians after they performed with distinction at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and made the country proud.

Team South Africa did achieve its goal of improving on its last appearance at the Olympic Games by winning six medals in Paris – double the number won at the previous Tokyo Games.

Others had their first taste of the Olympics and the chance to test themselves against the best in the world.

The country’s Sevens Rugby team, the Blitzboks, got the ball rolling for Team South Africa when they survived a late comeback by Australia to claim South Africa’s first Olympic medal, winning the thrilling bronze medal match 26-19.

Two days later, Durban-born and bred mountain-biker, Alan Hatherly, added to Team South Africa’s medal tally.

The 28-year-old showed that dreams do eventually come true. He had twice represented the country at the Olympic Games without success, throwing in the towel.

Hatherly became South Africa’s first-ever Olympic mountain bike medalist, securing the bronze medal in the men’s cross-country event.

“It’s been flat out since the race I think the race was the easy part, after the race was quite a long evening. I saw this morning a few social media clips was a really close call in the end I guess it’s just the South African way to fight all the way to the end but overall really happy the race,” Hatherly said after winning.

The country’s most decorated Olympian Tatjana Schoenmaker tied the knot with athlete representative Joel Smith, in November 2023 after they got engaged in 2022.

The 27-year-old – now Tatjana Smith – continued in Paris from where she left off at the Tokyo Games – eight months after tying the knot.

She won the country’s first gold medal of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in the 100m breaststroke race.

She followed that up with a silver medal in her preferred event, the 200m breaststroke, for Team South Africa’s fourth medal of the games.

Smith announced her retirement shortly after winning the silver medal.

” I have such peace in my heart that I am definitely done. This was the last race ever I am gonna miss it. I am still on a high but probably tomorrow I’ll say maybe I shouldn’t have done that, ” reflected Smith about her retirement.

Two-time Olympic 100m finalist, Akani Simbine, was among the medal contenders for Team South Africa.

The 31-year-old had finished fifth in Rio in 2016 and fourth in Tokyo in 2020.

He recorded another dreaded fourth place in the men’s 100m final.

However, the country’s fastest man wasn’t going to return empty-handed.

He anchored the four-by-100 metres relay team also comprising, Shaun Maswanganyi, Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana.

The quartet won the silver medal.

“This is for you guys to show you that anything is possible don’t think that you are young and you cannot achieve anything in life just believe in whatever you are doing and everything will come your way, ” said an elated 18-year-old Bayanda Walaza on their return from Paris. 

Simbine wedded his long-time partner, Terisa Webb, in Cape Town earlier this month.

The white-themed wedding was attended by his industry friends, including Caster Semenya and her wife Violet Raseboya.

Meanwhile, Javelin thrower, Jo-Ane van Dyk, won South Africa’s first field event medal at the Paris Games.

Van Dyk’s silver in the women’s javelin was South Africa’s sixth medal overall.

A World Junior Championships silver medalist in 2018, two-time African champion and this year’s All-Africa Games champion, Van Dyk’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable.

Like Simbine, Van Dyk also tied the knot with long-time partner, Johan du Plessis, in October at a Robertson wine estate in the Western Cape.