The Olympic Games

SOUTH Africa has a long history of taking part in the Olympic Games, where many of our athletes have achieved greatness. The country’s potential was stymied for a time by racism which resulted in a ban from the games for many years.

But today South Africans rally behind all their athletes who have their hopes pinned on gold. We look back at some of our Olympic heroes who in spite of adversity were able to honourably represent the country in the eyes of the world.

EARLY ACHIEVERS

■ and The third Olympic Games took place in in , America. Only 13 countries sent athletes to the event, which coincided with the St Louis World Fair. Because there were so few international athletes, in the games.