KNYSNA | PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS – Just in case you somehow missed it, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay will have six representatives taking part in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But these six aren't our only locals with Olympic ties, as our region has extensive connections with past Olympians.
In our research for this piece, KPH elicited the help of the Knysna and Plett communities through Facebook to name residents past and present who have taken part in the Olympics over the years.
We received a very robust response and many names were put forward, most Olympians but some not. Herewith the Olympic roll of honour of those who have, or still do call Knysna/Plett home:
• Malcolm Spence; Rome 1960; Athletics – Spence was the last South African to win a medal at an Olympics before the country was banned from the games in 1962 for its apartheid policies. He earned bronze in the 400m race. Spence was also the last SA Olympic medallist in the 400m until Wayde van Niekerk's world record run in 2016. He lived in Knysna in the '80s into early '90s, started the Knysna Marathon Club, and his son still lives here.
• David Rissik*; Barcelona 1992; Equestrian Eventing
• Peter Gotz*; Barcelona 1992; Equestrian Jumping
• Barry Hayward*; Barcelona 1992; Canoe Sprint
• Clive Noble*; Barcelona 1992; Team SA doctor – Noble was the only doctor with Team SA in 1992, the sole person in charge of the entire team's medical care.
• Greg Davis*; Atlanta 1996; Sailing Coach (Ian Ainsley)
• Kirstin Lewis; Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004; Archery – Although she never lived in Plett herself, Lewis' parents have been long-time residents of The Crags and regularly sell products at the Harkerville Saturday Market.
• Donald Ravenscroft*; Sydney 2000; Taekwondo
• Michele Eray; Beijing 2008/Rio 2016; Canoe Sprint/Team USA coach – Eray was born in Johannesburg and grew up in Plett, attending school in Knysna. She now lives in the USA. In 2008 she took part as an SA athlete and in 2016 as a coach for Team USA.
• Erna Loots*; Rio 2016; Olympic Volunteer
• Carl Pasio; Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020; Team SA cycling management – Pasio was born in Johannesburg and raised in Knysna. He now lives in Spain.
* Current Knysna/Plett resident
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