Five Best: Commonwealth Games SA athletes

The Commonwealth Games have come and gone – and South African athletes made a great impact in the competition by winning 40 medals and finishing 7th on the medal’s table out of 71 countries. Jeanette Chabalala shines a spotlight on the five best athletes who contributed to the medal tally at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

1. Chad le Clos

Swimming champion Chad le Clos managed to captivate and enthral the country by winning a record of seven medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 22-year-old Olympic gold medalist won three of theses as part of the relay teams, and topped it up with four individual medals.

2. Cameron van der Burgh

South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh is considered one of the strongest breaststrokers in the world over short distances of 50m and 100m. He captured the attention of the world’s swimming fans by winning gold in the Commonwealth Games, in the men’s 50m breaststroke final.

3. Tracey-Lee Botha

The Gold medal tow continued for team South Africa as Tracey-Lee Botha and her partner Colleen Piketh struck a gold Medal in the Women’s Pairs Final against Jamie-Lea Winch and Natalie Melmore of England, at Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre.

4. Zack Piontek

Fighting in the 90kg division judoka, Zack Piontek – who often advises individuals to be serious about judo – received his second gold medal of the Commonwealth Games. Piontek struck gold in the last session of the competition by beating Matthew Purssey in his four-minute encounter.

5. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio

The highest ranked South African cyclist Ashleigh Moolman Pasio did what she does best at the Commonwealth Games and cycled to win. Although it seemed like she would not make it, after 98km of cycling and just two millimetres, Moolman-Pasio bravely beat Australia’s Tiffany Cromwell when she got her half-a-tyre in front, just in time to be counted for the enthralling women’s road race bronze.