The Star E-dition

Bianca, we salute you

MORGAN BOLTON morgan.bolton@inl.co.za

THE silver medal achieved by South African surfer Bianca Buitendag is not only a tale of great individual triumph, but one of the stand-out performances of the Tokyo Olympics.

Consider for a moment that before the Games, the 27-year-old had not competed in a tournament since 2019, had been unable to participate professionally due to Covid-19 for two years, had quietly gone about her preparation in a local gym in Victoria Bay on the Garden Route and its surrounding beaches, and the magnitude of her achievement can only then begun to be understood.

Moreover, as she ventured into the surf of Shidashita Beach, 60km outside of the Japanese capital, she was ranked 17th in the world and was considered to have only the slightest sliver of a chance to get to the knockout stages, never mind a pure silver, 550g representation of her accolade.

Before departing for Japan, Buitendag told us of her family, her two brothers who form the nucleus of her passion for the sport, her ocean-loving family and her father, who died recently.

She has made them all proud, and made a nation that was once ignorant of her skills and talent just as proud.

A day after claiming the silver, Buitendag retired from surfing, ready to tackle a new chapter in her life and although she will no longer participate as a professional, her legacy will endure for many years to come.

Watching Bianca this week has reminded many South Africans that despite the turmoil in the country, with the right values, a strong foundation, and an indomitable spirit we can truly achieve anything.

OPINION

en-za

2021-07-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-07-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestar.pressreader.com/article/281908776180145

African News Agency