This was a fantastic gesture.
It was all going so well for the Blitzbokke at Rio 2016. The South Africans had shown glimpses of class in their group stage matches and, after disposing of Australia, fancied themselves against Team GB in their last four clash.
They would have to do so without their flyer, and big try threat, Seabelo Senalta. He picked up a wrist injury that ruled him out of the knockout games and was replaced by travelling reserve Francois Hougaard.
The 28-year-old stepped in and did a decent job but was part of a team stunned by a Team GB outfit that eventually finished with a silver medal.
Hougaard and South Africa bounced back by filleting Japan in the bronze medal match. Senatla lined up with his teammates but was not given a bronze medal. Olympic committee rules somewhat harshly exclude players not involved in the squad for medal matches.
As soon as the South Africans returned to the Olympic Village, Hougaard rectified that.
So @Francoishougi gave (kind of forced me, lol) me his medal when we got back to the village – claiming i deserve it more like he doesn't?!
— Ntate Glory (@Seabelo_Senatla) August 12, 2016
Respect him so much for that. It was never about the individual or the medal but the act shows what type of man he is.
— Ntate Glory (@Seabelo_Senatla) August 12, 2016
Senatla told The South African: “Hougie wanted to give it to me [but] I was like ‘No, no, you keep it. Your name is on the list.”
Hougaard insisted, though, so Senatla now has an Olympic medal to bring home and show his family.
We’ll leave it to him to sum up the experience, and gesture.
Lest we not forget, material things perish. Life time memories are what we chasing and I'm glad me and Hougie can both take that back home.
— Ntate Glory (@Seabelo_Senatla) August 12, 2016
Well tweeted.
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