Khotso Mokoena finally put SA on the Beijing Olympics medals table with a silver in the men's long jump on Monday, ending a ten-day wait for South Africa to celebrate.
Mokoena pushed gold medallist Irving Saladino hard when he managed 8.24m in round four, but the 25-year-old world champion made his decisive leap also in the fourth round with a jump of 8.34 metres.
A fired-up Mokoena then appeared to sail even further into the pit with his final attempt, but his toes had crept into the putty just beyond the board, ruling the jump illegal.
Ibrahim Camejo of Cuba left it late to steal a bronze medal when he leapt 8.20m in the last of the six rounds to edge out Zimbabwe's Ngonidzashe Makusha and Cuban Wilfredo Martinez by one centimetre.
Saladino's gold made up for his dismal showing in Athens four years ago when he failed to progress past the qualifying round.
Defending Olympic champion Dwight Phillips did not even make the team after failing to qualify from the US trials.
"I came to the Games hoping to get into the finals and I went into the finals hoping to get any medal whether it's a bronze silver or gold; I just wanted to do well and the fact that God blessed me with the silver I'm very happy," said a beaming Mokoena, who believes there are still members of Team South Africa that are going to do well in the Games.
"We are very proud of his performance and achievement. Khotso has proved that indeed he is one of the best in the world. He has done Team SA and the country proud by putting us on the medal table," said Hajera Kajee, the chef de Mission.
"Silver is a win for Khotso, a win for athletics and a win for South Africa," said Ruben Ramolefi in celebrating Mokoena's silver medal after his own disappointment in the 3 000m steeplechase final.
"I would just like South Africa to have more faith in our team and be more positive about us. We have had six athletes compete so far and four have made the finals, and now we have a silver medal. It's time that the potential of the team is recognised."He saved the whole of Team South Africa and I'm really pleased for him," added LJ van Zyl who made the 400m hurdle final finishing fifth behind the Americans, who collected all three medals. "We are not finished yet, we have a good (4x400 relay) team for Friday, lets wait and see," he added.There was no other athletics joy for SA on the day. Ramolefi finished 14th in the men's 3 000m steeplechase final (8:34.58), Thuso Mpuang was eliminated in round two of the men's 200m heats, and Van Zyl was two places outside the medals in the men's 400m hurdles final, finishing fifth in 48.42.
Angelo Taylor won the hurdles gold medal with a time of 47.25 seconds to lead a United States sweep of the podium.
Kerron Clement took silver in 47.98 and compatriot Bershawn Jackson bronze in 48.06.
Taylor won the event in Sydney eight years ago but failed to make it past the semifinals in Athens in 2004.
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