Pretoria: South Africa’s Olympic governing body SASCOC congratulated Team South Africa’s six latest medallists at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London on Saturday.
Two medals in swimming and another four on the track brought the South African medal tally to eight after three days of competition.
SASCOC CEO, Tubby Reddy paid tribute to the athletes. “Each medallist, no matter what the colour of the medal, has made South Africa proud today. Six medals in one day is a great result and bodes well for the rest of the team here in London.”
The swimming medals came from Charl Bouwer – who won gold in the S13 50 metre freestyle event – and Achmat Hassiem – who won bronze in the S10 100 metre butterfly event.
The track medals all came in the sprint events. Teboho Mokgalagadi – T35, 100 metre event- and Dyan Buis – T38, 100 meter event – clinched silver, while Jonathan Ntutu in the T13, 100 meter event and Anrune Liebenberg in the T46, 200 meter event won bronze.
Natalie du Toit became the first South African to win a gold medal for Team South Africa when she won gold in the women’s 100-metre butterfly final (S9 class) on the first day of the competition.
At the last Paralympics in Beijing 2008, South Africa won 30 medals, 21 of them gold.
The Paralympics continue until 9 September.