Zaahier Adams
In a series leading up to the Paris Olympics, we here at Independent Newspapers catch up with former South African Olympians to regale us with their unique experiences. Today, we speak to Sunette Viljoen-Louw, who participated in the javelin in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016, where she won a silver medal.
Can you compare your international experiences with the Proteas Women’s team to your first Olympic experiences in Athens and Beijing?
They are both very special experiences. I was just 16 years old when I made my Proteas cricket debut in England, and I was only 19 when I went to the Athens Olympics. They both have significance.
Being young and making my debut in two different major international sporting events will always be very special to me. Cricket was an amateur sport back then, and there weren’t really any career prospects, as everyone had a day job still, which played a big role in me switching paths.
So, going to the Olympics just three years later, the biggest sporting event in the world, was a really special moment for me.
How disappointed were you when you missed out on a medal in London 2012 by 0.38cm?
The London Olympics was undoubtedly the biggest disappointment of my career. I went to the London Olympics as the world No 1. I set three national records leading up to the Games.
I threw an African record 69.35 just a month before in New York, so I had huge expectations on my shoulders heading into the London Olympics to win a gold medal.
On the night, I qualified for the finals with my first throw and I felt really, really good. I knew in my heart that I could do it because I was the best javelin thrower in the world that year.
But then on the night it just didn’t happen. I finished fourth in the Olympic final. I was devastated, and remained that way for almost two weeks upon returning home.
The amount of work that you put in, and the years of training leading up the Olympics, and then in a split second you win or lose. It’s a feeling that you can't describe to anyone.
That’s the risk you take when becoming a professional athlete. You are either successful or you are going to lose. And on that day I finished fourth. It’s then when your mentality comes to the fore. Do you keep on fighting or do you give up?
Talk us through the emotions of being on the podium when you received your medal in Rio?
For me, there was no point in ever giving up. So, like I said, London was my biggest disappointment of my entire career.
I had to pick myself up and fought through for another four years. I am so happy today that I did that because if I look back today, I wouldn’t have been an Olympic medallist.
So, after the disappointment of London, Rio was just such a special moment for me.
The emotions, standing on an Olympic podium, you can’t describe that to anyone. It’s only a handful of people in the world that can say ‘I am an Olympic medallist’. To be called an Olympic medallist is something I will always treasure.
When I bent down to receive that medal it was such a special moment. I will remember that forever and just talking about it now makes me smile all over again.
Do you still have your silver medal, and where do you keep it?
It’s in my draw right next to my bed. I take it out every other day to remind myself of that special day. That 500g of silver is very close to my heart.