Our Olympians in Tokyo

KNYSNA | BITOU SPORT NEWS - SA Olympians from our neck of the woods have been fighting tooth and nail at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, flying their SA flag high and battling it out against the world's best athletes.

Knysna and Plettenberg Bay have five representatives over in Tokyo as part of Team South Africa – Sam Mvimbi (hockey), Aimee Canny (swimming), Leo Davis (sailing), Greg Davis (Leo's coach), and Carl Pasio (Team SA road cycling manager).

Greg and Carl are both making their second appearances at an Olympic Games while the other three are Olympic debutants.

Sam was the first of our Olympians who hopped into action when he started for the SA men's hockey team (14th in the world) in their opening Group B encounter with Great Britain (fifth in the world) on Saturday 24 July.

Commentators sang Sam's praises in the match and even made mention of his old club, Old Oaks Knysna Hockey Club. Despite the best efforts of Sam and his teammates, the Brits proved too strong, winning 3-1.

SA's second game the next day, Sunday 25 July, was against the Netherlands who are third in the world. Sam came off the bench on this occasion as SA roared to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter.

A goal in the second quarter and two for the Dutch saw SA hold an unforeseen 3-2 lead at half-time. Unfortunately their best efforts would be outdone again, as Netherlands took the match 5-3.

Matters did not get easier for Sam and co. as they faced world number one side Belgium next. With Sam starting on the bench once more, Belgium started well, but SA replied with a goal of their own immediately afterwards.

Sam Mvimbi (left) in action for SA against Great Britain.
Photo: International Hockey Federation

Although Belgium's prestige and skills were evident in their attack and control of the game from start to finish, SA never backed down from the challenge. They ultimately lost 9-4, but did no go down without a fight.

Carl's first taste of action was on Saturday with three SA riders taking part in the men's road race. SA's best-placed rider was Stefan de Bod, who finished 52nd (out of 85 finishers). Next up was the women's road race on Sunday where his wife Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio was taking part as SA's best hope for a cycling medal.

A couple of setbacks along the way meant Ashleigh could only muster up a 13th place as Africa's highest finisher in the race. She had a second bite at the cherry on Wednesday in the women's road time trial and fared much better, this time finishing eighth in the standings.

None of our athletes were on action on Monday, but it was time for the sailing stars on early on Tuesday morning, 27 July. In the first Finn men's race, Leo finished 17th, and after the second race he was 19th.

The third and fourth races took place on Wednesday. He finished 19th on both occasions.

Aimee's turn to don SA colours in Tokyo came on Wednesday where she took part in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay. Aimee swam the first leg of the relay and at the 150m mark she lay in third place before ending her 200m in fifth place with a time of 1:58.41.

This set the tone for teammates Rebecca Meder, Dune Coetzee, and Erin Gallagher as they clocked an impressive 8:01.56 time that secured sixth place and a brand-new African record in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay.

Sam Mvimbi (middle) in action for SA against Great Britain.
Photo: International Hockey Federation