By GARY LEMKE
Miles Liebenberg gave Team SA cause for celebration when he claimed the country’s first gold medal on the opening day of competition at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad & Tobago.
“I’m so happy,” said Liebenberg. “It’s an absolutely unbelievable experience in winning this. It’s definitely the biggest race I’ve ever won and it’s also only the second time I’ve won on the road. It really means a lot to me and I hope I’ve made a lot of people proud.”
Indeed he did, with those Team SA athletes in Trinidad getting together to welcome him back after his medal ceremony.
“What an exciting first day of these Commonwealth Youth Games for Team SA,” said SASCOC president Barry Hendricks. “I’d like to take the opportunity to praise Miles Liebenberg on his gold medal. It was a tough race but he won by three seconds. He’s brought pride to South Africa and I look forward to reaction from all his countrymen back home,” Hendricks added.
The chef de mission for Team SA, Danisha Mendes, was ecstatic. “Wow, what a moment and what a way to start the medals ball rolling. This is such a tightly-knit squad and everyone takes great pride and joy in the successes of everyone else. Congratulations to Miles!”
Liebenberg is still only 16 and his previous best effort came when he finished second in the junior road race at the South African Championships earlier this year.
In the women’s time trial, Jessie Munton finished fifth, some 56 seconds behind the gold medallist Lauren Bates, of Australia, who won in 14min 9sec.
Photos: Roger Sedres