Worldwide, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games ignited online conversations among current and former elite athletes. This was as athletes set new personal bests and national, continental and world records in various events.
The contention for the 100m and 200m sprints was entertaining and dramatic, with the US’ Noah Lyles and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo writing their history winning gold medals. The mesmerizing 100m race was won by the smallest of margins in a dramatic photo finish.
There were breathtaking performances almost everywhere; the Swedish pole vaulter, Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis, set a new world record height as he flew over the bar at 6.25m. While these athletes showcased their best sporting capabilities, the African athletes also raised the bar in various events.
South Africa’s 4x100m relay team won a silver medal, with Akani Simbine storming the finish line in second place, setting an African Record of 37.57 seconds. All of Africa seemed to rejoice that Simbine finally got a medal.
Meanwhile, there were also South African athletes who, despite not podiuming, showcased their talents among the world’s best performers. The University of Johannesburg’s Lythe Pillay (21) competed in his first-ever Olympics, running in the 400m sprint and the 4x400m men’s relay.
A memorable Olympic journey:
Pillay’s journey to Paris was marked by remarkable achievements, including a first-place finish in the repechage and a seventh-place finish in the 400m semifinal. In the 4x400m relay, he contributed to South Africa’s record-breaking performance, helping the team finish in 5th place. He finished in 20th place overall.
The UJ youngster drew inspiration from his teammate Matt Nortjie, who continued to compete despite a fall during the heats. This display of resilience motivated him to give his all, even in the face of adversity.
“I’ll forever cherish the opportunity to run for and represent my country at the highest level. I drew a lot of inspiration from my teammate Matt Nortjie. Seeing him immediately get up with no hesitation and continue running, after his fall in the heats, inspired me greatly.
The mood among the SA athletes was a pretty chilled one. We would frequently visit each other’s rooms, watch our teammates compete and show support to one another,” says Pillay.
He added, “My highlight of the Olympic Games would definitely be us breaking the National 4x400m record by an entire second.”
A Positive Olympic experience and lessons learned:
Pillay fondly recalls the camaraderie and support among the South African athletes, creating a positive and memorable experience. He highlights the team’s strong bond and unwavering support for one another.
Reflecting on his performance, Pillay acknowledges areas for improvement while remaining optimistic about his future. He plans to continue his training regimen, focusing on building strength and refining his technique. Pillay’s goal is to maintain his current trajectory and further enhance his athletic abilities.
Speaking on his race outcomes, Pillay said, “I was extremely disappointed. It has shown how anything can happen. However, this has also reinforced my confidence in my own resilience and determination after seeing how I still gave it my all, despite fighting a losing battle, and was able to contribute a sub-44 in the 4x400m final for my team.”
Looking ahead, Pillay aims to continue where he left off, with improved strategies and a new plan to build strength. “I strongly feel that my current progression line has been positive and that I should not stray too far out from what my team and I have been doing. There will be things that we add along the way, such as strength training, but we will have to slot it in with our current formula.
From this year’s Olympics, Pillay has taken valuable lessons from his overall participation. “One of the great skills was learning how to stay and run composed through all stressful environments and scenarios. Going forward, the plan is to remain on the same progression course that I have displayed over the past seasons and continue to expand as well as exploiting my strengths and the untapped potential.”
Caitlin Rooskrantz’s unfortunate exit:
Another UJ student-athlete, professional gymnast Caitlin Rooskrantz competed in the Paris Olympics. She competed on the vault, floor, beam and bar. In her floor performance, Rooskrantz got injured at the early start of her competition after she landed awkwardly on her knees from her back somersault flip. On the same day, the Team South Africa doctor ruled her out of the competition due to her knee injury.
