Sport Matters

Today South Africa begins what promises to be the country's most successful campaign in the IAAF World Championship. The world athletics showpiece in London has all the ingredients of a masterpiece and, even better, Team SA looks good enough to add value and improve on previous performances. Since readmission to world sports in the early 1990s, SA has had poor pickings in the IAAF event, returning its better marks in 2009 (Berlin) and 2011 (Daegu, Korea). Three medals in Berlin and four in Daegu served mostly to save face but they can't be noted to be counting among the best of the best. It is fitting however to compliment those athletics who gave their all for the country previously. This time we have a squad that, on paper, has the potential to return with six medals or more. Caster Semenya was involved in the feats of those two editions, winning women's 800m gold in Berlin and silver in Daegu. Interestingly, she is among favourites to win gold medals in London. E