By GARY LEMKE in Accra
When it comes to a Monday, it’s never a blue one for Team SA. Instead, it was a rainbow of gold, silver and bronze as 21 medals at the African Games lifted their total to 50 to sit fourth on the overall medals table behind Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria.
In total there were four different codes who got into the act for Team SA. Banele Mhango had got chess onto the board, so to speak, when he picked up bronze in the men’s blitz invitational. Then it was wrestling’s turn where Ben Theron took bronze, while wrestling moved up to the second most prolific code here with six medals – thanks to Jon Antohein-Phillips and Anneke Spies, who both took three bronzes.
However, the best was left for last when the swimmers again made a splash in the pool. They produced a baker’s dozen medals with four golds – Jonah Pool-Jones’ came by virtue of a dead heat in the men’s 50m backstroke with Algeria’s Abedellah Ardjoune – Caitlin de Lange and Catherine van Rensburg and the women’s 4x200m freestyle team.
Lining up to collect their silver medals were Matthew Caldwell, Jarden Eaton, Andrew Ross, Tayla Jonker, Kate Meyer and the men’s 4x200m freestyle squad, while Cameron Casali, Hannah Mouton and Georgie Els all picked up bronze.
On Sunday Team SA had won 16 medals, but Monday brought even more riches with 21 and they head into Tuesday in mint condition,
Caitlin de Lange claimed gold in the women’s 50m freestyle in 28.76sec for her third individual medal at these Games and her fifth when you take the relays into consideration. She held off teammate Tayla Jonker and afterwards gave credit to her teammates. Importantly, De Lange’s time was a fresh African Games record, the second in the pool by Team SA this week.
“The entire team has gelled so well. Ee keep each other motivated and the vibe is amazing. Once the first gold medal was out the way the confidence surged through the team. Hopefully we’ll win even more gold! I’m very excited for the 50m freestyle, which is my favourite event. I’ll be looking to brat my PB there,” she said.
The closest finish of the night came in the men’s 50m backstroke where it was impossible to split him and Abdellahg Ardjoune at the wall, both being credited with a 25.85 touch. They shared the gold and they also shared the experience of swimming rivalry at its finest.
“I was confident going into the final because I was seeded first from the morning (26.07). So, I was in good shape and went even faster in the final. I have to be happy and now looking forward to our Olympic National trials in a few weeks which is my focus.”
The action continues on Tuesday.
Photo of Caitlin de Lange by Roger Sedres in Accra