Team SA’s sevens silver came down to a one-minute chase
DAKAR — Chanel Veldsman had spent about a year trying to swim faster than 2 minutes 34 seconds in the 200m breaststroke. On Monday, the 17-year-old South African bettered that mark twice in one day, clocking 2:33.36 in the heats and 2:30.87 in the final to win Youth Olympic bronze. Team SA added a second medal that day when the boys’ rugby sevens side fought back from 21–5 down at half-time before losing the final 26–19 to France.
Veldsman, a learner at Die Hoërskool Menlopark in Pretoria who swims for TuksSport, qualified third fastest and took another 2.49 seconds off her time in the final. Japan’s Mana Ishikawa won gold in 2:26.50, with China’s Mohan Chang taking silver in 2:27.21. Veldsman told Olympics.com she had hoped to break 2:30, but was proud to have set a personal best in both sessions. Her bronze followed teammate Leah Markgraaff’s silver in the girls’ 400m freestyle.
Jake Dave brings South Africa within two points
At the Iba Mar Diop sports complex, Jake Dave scored all 14 of South Africa’s second-half points. He crossed twice and converted both of his own tries, cutting a 16-point French lead to 21–19 with a minute left. France scored the last try to secure its second boys’ Youth Olympic sevens title, 12 years after winning the first in Nanjing.
The sevens silver took South Africa to three medals by the close of Monday’s competition. On Tuesday, rower Callum Dreyer added the team’s first gold when he beat Spain’s Diego Molina Martinez in the boys’ solo coastal beach sprint final. His win meant South Africa’s first four medals in Senegal had come across three sports.
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