Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says that South Africa is the "land of gold", after Chad Le Clos won the men's 200 metre butterfly race at the London Olympics 2012 yesterday.
Zuma said the nation was filled with pride and joy, and described Le Clos as one of South Africa's finest and youngest athletes.
"Our Chad and all of us were overcome with emotion as he stood majestically to receive his medals to the moving sound of our national anthem," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
This was the second gold medal for Team South Africa. Le Clos' victory comes just after swimmer Cameron van der Burgh won the first gold medal in the men's 100 metre breaststroke competition.
"We know it is early days in the games but with two gold medals already, our country is counted among the best sporting nations in the world.
"The whole nation is proud of these athletes and we would like to congratulate both the athletes and Team South Africa for the achievements this far. A proud nation is behind you all the way," said Zuma.
He further urged the "rainbow team" to keep the medals coming.
