16 Aug 2004

South Africa's relay men cause upset of the Olympic Games, crowed the Olympic early morning update on national Greek TV station Alpha. The station showed the entire relay, then focused on the jubilation of the foursome at the edge of the pool where Ferns, who turned 21 last month, stood on the block flexing his muscles and waving the South African flag. South Africans dashed Michael Phelps hopes of winning eight Olympic gold medals in major upset, lamented CNN's Olympic update. Phelps came to Athens with aspirations of beating fellow American Mark Sptiz's Olympic record of seven golds at the 1972 Munich Olympics.Floating on cloud South Africa
“Tri-Nations glory, Olympic gold, and the simple joy of being South African — when was the last time we had a weekend quite like this one?” ~ Dan Nicholl

New Zealand's Andrew Merhtens tackles Joe Van Niekerk during the Tri-Nations rugby Test in Ellis Park.• Tri-Nations or bust for Boks
Following the thrilling 40-26 Vodacom Tri-Nations victory over the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday, the Springboks have a very realistic chance of winning the Vodacom Tri-Nations trophy for only the second time. But they could also end last.

“It’s amazing that if we lose we will come last, but if we win we will come first. It’s just been an unbelievably tight tournament,” said a visibly happy Jake White shortly after the win.

South African swimmers react after winning the 4x100-metre freestyle relay at the Athens Olympic Games on Sunday.• SA snatch relay gold, world record
South Africa’s golden boys led Olympic news in Greece and America after Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neethling broke the world 4x100m relay record for gold in the biggest upset of the Athens Olympics so far.

“I knew we had a chance, but you never really think a small country like South Africa could take out the Americans and the Aussies and the Russians.” ~ Neethling

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