13th African Games | Cycling, beach volleyball keep medal tally growing for Team SA

Although it was a quieter day for Team SA in terms of codes and competitors in action at the 13th African Games, that doesn’t mean the medals table didn’t keep ticking over.

Team SA were represented by only two codes in Accra on Thursday – beach volleyball and cycling. Both added to the medals tally and contributed with three silvers to take the overall total to 81.

On Thursday, the women’s team of Haylee Preen, Sonica Klopper, Annike Visser and Lucy Young surged to the silver medal behind Eritrea in the 37.5km Women’s Time-Trial Under-23 Elite event.

The men’s time trial was held over 50km where Brandon Downes, Blaine Kieck, Dillon Geary and Daniyel Matthews also claimed silver.

Beach volleyballers Danilo Von Ludwiger and Leo Williams made it a third silver on the day, out of three events contested for Team SA. They had reached the final where they went down to tournament favourites Mohammed Abicha and Soufiane El Gharouti of Morocco.

Team SA’s 81 medals comprise 22 gold, 25 silver and 34 bronze. Swimming was responsible for 46 medals, more than they won at Morocco in 2019.

HOW TEAM SA FARED ON THURSDAY

Cycling

SILVER! Women’s team time trial, final: Haylee Preen, Sonica Klopper and Annike Visser rode to the silver medal in the team event over 37.5km.

SILVER! Men’s team time trial, final: Brandon Downes, Blaine Kieck, Dillon Geary and Daniyel Matthews rode to silver in the team event over 50km.

Beach Volleyball

SILVER! Men’s doubles, final: Team SA (Danilo Von Ludwiger/Leo Williams) lost to Morocco (Mohammed Abicha/Soufiane El Gharouti

Photo by Frennie Shivambu in Accra