Tatjana Smith quenched the unbearable thirst of South Africa for silverware when she beat China’s silver medalist Tang Qianting and Ireland’s bronze medal winner Mona McSharry for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games 100m breaststroke title, at the Paris La Defense Arena in France on Monday, 29 July, 2024.
At the moment the star South African aquatics champion touched the wall at the end of her 100m breaststroke final, not even Smith knew for sure that she had safely secured the Olympic gold medal.
South Africans held their breath to see whether the Tokyo gold and silver medallist could make a return to the Olympic podium after reaching the first turn down in fourth place. But sure enough, Smith produced a sensational second 50m to storm to victory in a time of 1:05.28.
“I had no idea where I was, literally most of the race,” admitted Smith afterwards.
“I actually didn’t think I medalled because when I turned to my left, the two blocks next to me both had lights on and it felt like someone else on the other side touched first. So, I actually didn’t think I was medalling!”
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Women’s 100m Breaststroke Champion, Tatjana Smith
“My main goal was just to not do what I did in Tokyo and look around, so literally the last 15 metres, I was like, no, close your eyes, let’s just go.”
Qianting Tang of China, who recorded the fastest 100m breaststroke time in the world this year in April, finished second in 1:05.54, while Ireland’s Mona McSharry took the bronze in 1:05.59.
Should Smith successfully defend her 200m breaststroke title on Thursday, she will become only the second swimmer in history to complete the 100 and 200m breaststroke double. The last to achieve it? South Africa’s other golden girl in the pool – Penny Heyns in 1996.
Elsewhere the SA women’s hockey team put up another impressive performance against a side ranked 16 places above them in the world standings, Argentina.
The South Africans led 2-1 for much of the match after goals from Antonet Louw and Kayla de Waal, but they let their guard down in the final quarter, conceding three goals in the space of four minutes to eventually go down 4-2. Agustina Gorzelany proved the star of the game for the South Americans, completing her hat-trick in the 52nd minute.
“It was a tough day today,” said SA captain Quanita Bobbs afterwards. “It was hot out there. First of all, we had a really great first half. We said we wanted to get the first outcome, which was get the first goal and we did that.
“I’m proud of the girls for the effort today. I think just the last quarter we ran out of steam and our basics let us down, we just kept giving the ball away, and then with the Argentinian flare on attack they capitalised on the opportunities.”
SA Women’s Hockey Captain, Quanita Bobbs
But it was a great effort to be 2-1 up against the number two in the world. I’m very proud of the girls. Now we just have to rest and recover, make sure we come back strong for Great Britain.”
Meanwhile, the SA women’s rugby sevens team found it tough going again in their pool when they came up against Great Britain [on Wednesday].
The South Africans blazed to a 12-0 lead thanks to tries from Libbie Janse van Rensburg and Nadine Roos but GB scored just before halftime to close the gap and head into the break with the score on 12-7. The Brits scored immediately after the restart to level matters and a ding-dong battle ensured with just two points in it with just over two and a half minutes to play. But a Jasmine Joyce try sealed the win for the GB side.
As a result of the loss, the South Africans headed into the playoff for ninth to 12th place where they met Japan later in the evening. They also scored first in that match but ultimately went down 15-12 and will play Fiji for 11th place on Tuesday.
Over at La Chapelle Arena, SA’s only badminton representative in Paris, Johanita Scholtz, put up another massive fight in the opening set of her second-round robin encounter against Jin Wei Goh of Malaysia but ultimately went down 2-0 (23-21, 21-11).
“I would not say it is disappointing,” said an upbeat Scholtz afterwards. “My goal was to perform and win the most points I could. To think that I could get 20 points against her is an opportunity, and that’s a milestone I wanted to reach today.”
SA surfer Sarah Baum faces an enormous challenge when she comes up against American Carissa Moore, who defeated Bianca Buitendag to the gold medal in Tokyo three years ago, in heat 4 of round 3 in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Up for grabs is a place in the quarterfinals.
Team South Africa’s Women’s Contingent and Paris 2024 Broadcast Updates
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Saturday, 27 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Sunday, 28 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Monday, 29 July, 2024
Badminton
Women’s Singles, Group H: Johanita Scholtz went down 2-0 (23-21, 21-11) to Goh Jin Wei (Malaysia) in a hard-fought match. Ultimately though, it was her second defeat in two group games so far.
Hockey
Women’s Pool B: Team SA 2 Argentina 4
Rugby Sevens
Women’s Pool B: Team SA 17 Great Britain 26. This was the third defeat of the competition for Team SA, who went down to Australia and Ireland on Sunday.
Women’s 9th-12th place playoff: Team SA 12 Japan 15
Surfing
Women’s round 3: Postponed – Sarah Ann Baum v Carissa Moore (USA)
Swimming
Women’s 100m breaststroke, final: GOLD! Tatjana Smith won in a time of 1:05,28 to see off the challenge of China’s Tang Qianting (1:05.54) and Ireland’s Mona McSharry (1:05.59)
Schedule of Events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Tuesday, 30 July, 2024
Rowing
09:30: Single Skulls quarterfinals – Paige Badenhorst
10:50: Single Skulls semifinals – TBC
Sevens
16:30 Women’s Placing 11-12 – South Africa v Fiji
Surfing
21:19: Heat 3 (and possibly Quarter-Finals TBC) – Sarah Ann Baum v Carissa Moore (USA)
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Tatjana Smith quenched the unbearable thirst of South Africa for silverware when she beat China’s silver medalist Tang Qianting and Ireland’s bronze medal winner Mona McSharry for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games 100m breaststroke title, at the Paris La Defense Arena in France on Monday, 29 July, 2024. Photo: Anton Geyser / Team SA
Photo 2 Caption: Smith said she closed her eyes tight and refused to look back, dedicating everything in her power to touching the winner’s wall first. Photo Anton Geyser / Team SA
Photo 3 Caption: At first the SA swim star thought she’d missed out on medalling, and then her moment of realising victory broke through. Photo Anton Geyser / Team SA
Photo 4 Caption: South Africa pressured world no. Argentina hard after scoring first, but a late comeback from the South Americans saw the brave SA team lose 4-2. Photo: FIH
Photo 5 Caption: The Springbok Women’s Sevens will be disappointed with losses after commanding starts against Great Britain and Japan. Photo: World Rugby
