The Springbok Sevens South Africa have made history by becoming the first African team to win a medal during the Paris Olympic 2024 Summer Games. South Africa’s rugby team survived a late comeback by six-man Australia to claim South Africa’s first Olympic medal.

The Blitzboks won the bronze medal in the Men’s Rugby Sevens on Saturday.

South Africa’s men survived two late Australian tries after they had been reduced to six men by a red card for Nic Malouf, the Australian captain, after a head-high shot on Tiaan Pretorius. After Malouf left the field, the Aussies scored twice to level the scores at 19-all going into the final minute of the game.

Team SA began to celebrate in the knowledge that they will get on the medal board after their earlier disappointment at losing in the semifinal to hosts France. On day one, South Africa’s rugby team lost their opening two matches to Ireland and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s first athlete to participate at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics is Zimbabwe’s championship rower, Steve Cox, who finished a strong fourth in the opening heat of the men’s rowing. He, however, failed to make it to the top three but put up a sterling performance, battling hard with a Cuban rower down the course. Steve gets to shine again tomorrow at 9.36 am (Zimbabwe time) where he’ll take part in the repechage and fight for a potential place in the final.