One of the biggest highlights in South African Olympic history was the lightweight fours rowing team winning a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
At the time it was described as the greatest rowing finish the Olympics had ever seen. It was certainly a victory against all odds. Proving to every South African athlete that with the right mindset anything is possible. Not surprisingly James Thompson, Matthew Brittain, John Smith and Lawrence Ndlovu were dubbed as the “Awesome Foursome”.
The Tuks/HPC rowers heroics have certainly not been forgotten. On Friday they received The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver from President Jacob Zuma, the Grand Patron of the National Orders.
The National Orders are the highest awards that South Africa bestows, through the President of the Republic upon citizens and members of the international community who have contributed meaningfully towards making the country a free democratic and successful nation, united in its diversity.
“Each one of us believed that dedicated training wins races. Therefore we made sure that we arrived at a training session with the same hunger that we would need on the day of the Olympic final,” said Brittain.
“It takes an incredible commitment to push yourself to continue in spite of the pain and to give your best with every stroke even when your body is begging you to stop. But if you want it badly enough you find out that your body is capable of performing feats of unreal excellence even under the most inhuman conditions.”
Brittain (Tuks/HPC) retired in 2013 due to a persistent back injury.
When Thompson says he does not believe in giving up he means it. Many people might not know about the obstacles he had to overcome as a child to be able to achieve what he did. He was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), dyslexia, reading disorders, spelling disorders, as well as motor skills disorders.
According to Thompson, his participation in sports, especially rowing, has helped him to cope with his disabilities.
“But at times my disabilities helped me to cope with my sporting challenges. That is why I often speak about the lessons I have learned through the process of winning and losing,” said Thompson who has qualified to receive a degree in Sports Sciences from the University of Pretoria.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Smith is already priming himself for the next challenge by moving up a weight category as part of his preparation for the 2020 Games in the Tokyo, Japan. Smith knows that with a move from lightweight to heavyweight he is in for a tough challenge. Not only will he have to gain 20 kilograms (kg), he also needs to become much stronger. Since the Olympic Games in Rio, Smith has already gained 12 kg. His goal is to weigh 90 kg, and becoming stronger and moving closer to his goal for the 2020 games.
Ndlovu, otherwise known as “Seize,” became the first black African male rower to win Olympic gold, overcoming injury and illness to become one of Africa’s best rowers.
Since winning the Olympic Gold, the Tuks/HPC-rower has received many accolades. In February 2013 he was named Athlete of the Month by World Rowing, his teammates and he won the Sports Team of the Year Award at the 2012 South African Sports Awards; 2012 World Rowing Crew of the Year Award. – African News Agency (ANA)
