Blitzboks bask in Olympic medal glory

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Head coach Philip Snyman lauded the character of his players as the Blitzboks bounced back from a disappointing start to clinch the 2024 Olympic Rugby Sevens bronze medal.

A semi-final loss against eventual gold medallists France on Saturday did not break the South Africans’ spirit, as they regrouped to beat Australia for the bronze medal at the Stade de France in Paris.

Snyman, a member of the 2016 squad that won a bronze medal in the inaugural Olympic Rugby Sevens event, heaped praise on his players.

“We have a great management, and this win was also for those back in South Africa, but the moment belongs to the players – I am so proud of them and what they achieved here today,” he said.

“We had our ups and downs, especially on the first day, but the way the team came back on the next two competition days made me so proud.

“We had our lapses and could have been in the final, but all that matters will be the bronze medals they earned today. It is so deserved to a group of guys who never stopped working and playing for their country.

RECAP: Blitzboks bag Olympic bronze

“We were gutted after the France defeat, but the players showed huge courage to come out and fight for that bronze medal against Australia. I am so proud of them, as I am sure South Africa will be for their first medal at the Paris Games.”

For Blitzbok captain Selvyn Davids, the completion of the journey to a medal was a proud moment: “We had to come such a long way, and needed to qualify through the repechage tournament just to get to Paris, and we were the last team in.

“We were almost down and out earlier in the year, but what a comeback and what a fight by this group. It is so satisfying to see us playing to our potential and be proud Olympic medallists.

“We are proud of this medal and achievement and to know that we have done our system justice and hopefully gave South Africa something to smile about is really a great feeling,” added Davids.

Rosko Specman, who became the first rugby player to earn two medals at the Olympics, said the second meant as much as the first achieved in Rio in 2016.

“What a journey it has been for me, to earn two medals eight years apart – that is speicial,” he added.

“But even more special is the journey we had to get to this point. From the dark moments in Harare, where we missed out on qualification, to Monaco, where we used our final chance.

“We may have been the last team in, but we are bronze medallists. Well done to the coaches and management who got this group to believe it is possible.”

Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter

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