30 May 2014

The African Youth Games triathlon ended in a thrilling style on Thursday, May 29, when all the participating South African athletes each got a medal.

Out of the six medals at stake, South African athletes snatched four medals for triathlon in a brilliant performance in at Otse. After qualifying for the finals, the previous day, the South Africans wanted to complete their task in the final; and they were good, especially inside the swimming pool.

Maude Elaine Le Roux started the quest for medals when she won the gold medal for the female triathlon final in a time of 01:08:40. Her fellow teammate Simone Claire Faulman came behind to win the silver medal in a time of 01:10:38. On the third place was Rehab Hussein from Egypt who took the bronze medal in a total time of 01:11:29.

The men’s triathlon competition did not disappoint anybody as it was an amazingly fast display of athleticism. The South Africans continued to fly their flag high in the male category. South African athlete, Wikus Saunders, began the race in good form, exiting the swim in the first place in a time of 00:09:48. Namibian athlete Jean-Paul Burger followed 28 seconds later.

However, the race became interesting in the cycling laps where the Namibian managed to overtake Saunders and snatch the lead almost immediately after the swim. Another South African Nathan Le Roux who was on the third place also overtook Saunders to claim the second place.

In the end, Burger managed to win the gold medal in a total time of 01:00:26. The time is nearly 45 seconds faster than what he clocked on the same course the previous day. Le Roux was able to hold on to the second spot and he walked away with the silver medal in a total time of 01:01:56. Saunders however took home the bronze medal as a consolation for losing the lead in the crucial stage.  ENDS