Schoeman vs Sascoc

Roland Schoeman at the 2012 Olympic Games

Roland Schoeman, one of South Afica's most dedicated swimmers and a four-time Olympian, launched an attack against the South Afican Olympic Body for lack of support during the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games. He celebrated a personal victory during the final of the men's 50m freestyle, finishing in sixth place. " I would have love to have been faster," said Schoeman. He did not receive any support from the SA Olympic Body in the past year and a half. According to Schoeman, if he had the same financial support as Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh, the end results would have been better.

Looking back at his career as a South African swimmer, I will say that he definitely made South Afica pround and introducing our name to the score board. Receiving no support from Sascoc I believe he had some disadvantage compared to Le Clos and Van der Burgh. In 2004 (Athens Games) he received a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle, a silver in the 100m freestyle and a gold medal for 400m freestyle. www.sport24.com/olympics2012. When you take into account that he is such a great sportsman, we as a country expect that Sascoc should support the athletes representing our country in the Olympic Games.

The duty of Sascoc is to help the athletes representing our country and provide assistance in their training. They should help our athletes as much as possible, especially as Olympic sports are not a sustainable paying profession. All I can say is that it is much better to use the Sascoc budget on our athletes than using it for their own personal needs.  

The South African flag representing the types of sports seen at the Olympic Games