Blast from the past: Schoenmaker is a shoo-in at the World Student Games

Today in SA sports history: July 8

1924 — Sidney Atkinson finishes second in the 110m hurdles for the Olympic silver at the Paris Games. In four years he will become the first South African to upgrade to gold in any event. He would remain the only South African to improve a podium position from one Games to the next until Caster Semenya in 2016. 

1933 — The Springboks take on Australia for the first time, playing the first of a five-Test series at Newlands. SA win 17-3, scoring four tries without reply. Eighthman Ferdie Bergh scored a brace, while Western Province’s legendary halfback pairing of Bennie Osler and Danie Craven scored one apiece.

2000 — Jacques Kallis top-scores with 83 to help the Proteas beat Pakistan by 18 runs in an ODI in Colombo. SA made 241/6 before restricting their opponents to 223/9, with Nicky Boje taking 4/25. The match was part of a triangular series also featuring hosts Sri Lanka.

2000 — Wing Breyton Paulse scores two tries and scrumhalf Werner Swanepoel one as the Springboks go down 23-44 against Australia in a Nelson Mandela Challenge match at the new covered Colonial stadium in Melbourne. The home side scored five tries, with Stirling Mortlock on the right wing dotting down twice himself.

2003 — The Proteas bowlers are unable to defend a total of 198, losing to England by four wickets in an ODI in Birmingham. The home side reached the target with 11 overs remaining. The match was part of a triangular tournament also featuring Zimbabwe.

2005 — Bafana Bafana stun Mexico 2-1 in their opening Gold Cup group match in Los Angeles. Phil Evans and Elrio van Heerden scored in the opening half, with Francisco Rodrigues pulling back one in the 82nd minute.

2017 — Lizelle Lee scores 92 off 65 balls as the SA cricket women’s team score 273/9 and smash India by 115 runs in a World Cup group match in Leicester. Dane van Niekerk took 4/22.

2019 — Tatjana Schoenmaker claims the breaststroke double at the World Student Games, winning the 200m breaststroke in 2 min 22.92 sec to add to her 100m crown. Her Tuks teammate, Kaylene Corbett, was fourth. Schoenmaker ended fourth in the 50m breaststroke two days later, just 0.41 sec behind the winner.