Pretoria - Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula has praised the South African men's lightweight rowing team for clinching a third gold medal for the country at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Mbalula, who touched down in South Africa on Thursday morning with Banyana Banyana - who have bowed out of their debut Olympic Games - welcomed the news that country had bagged a third gold medal.
"We are proud of the four young men, who made our flag to rise above all and our national anthem to be sang louder," he said.
South Africa's first two medals came from the London Olympic Aquatic Centre. Cameron van der Burgh set a new world record in the 100m breaststroke on Sunday night and Chad le Clos beat the "Most Decorated Olympian of All Time" Michael Phelps in the 200m butterfly swimming event on Tuesday.
"We are optimistic that a lot more medals will be counted in our favour. Everyone at the Team South Africa house is truly motivated by the wins of the three. They have truly injected a dose of motivation to the other athletes.
"With this kind of fire we will be at the podium again," said the minister, who continued to encourage all South Africans to continue supporting the Team SA in London.
