Blast from the past: Ryk joins Roland on the podium at world champs

Today in SA sports history: July 28

1962 — Parys paddler Nollie Meiring wins the inaugural Berg River Canoe Marathon in his rudderless canvas-and-wood boat Kelkiewyn. But after accepting the first prize, a new red Volkswagen Beetle, he was banned as a professional by the national canoeing federation. Meiring remained in canoeing, however, and drove around the country in his offending car to get to events, notching up more than 250,000km.

2001 — Captain Bobby Skinstad scores the only try as the Springboks beat Australia 20-15 in a Tri-Nations match at Loftus Versfeld. Braam van Straaten, at inside centre, slotted five penalties.

2005 — Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling reach the same podium at the world championships as they finish second and third in the 100m freestyle in Montreal. Italy’s Filippo Magnini won in a 48.12 sec championship record, with Schoeman clocking 48.28 and Neethling 48.34. It was the first time two South Africans made the same podium at a world swimming championships. The previous year they had finished second and fourth at the Athens Olympics. 

2013 — The Proteas are beaten by eight wickets in the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka in Kandy. JP Duminy top-scored with 97 as SA were bowled out for 238. But the hosts raced to victory in 44 overs, opener Tillakaratne Dilshan making an unbeaten 115 and Kumar Sangakkara 91. The win gave the hosts an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

2014 — The Proteas clinch a 1-0 away Test series against Sri Lanka, hanging on to force a draw in the final second Test in Colombo. Victory was never on the cards for SA, chasing 359 in the final innings, but they batted throughout the final day. Reduced to 148/8, Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir gritted it out for eight overs and one ball until stumps were drawn. It was only the second time SA had won a series in Sri Lanka, after the success of the 1993 team.

2019 — US-based student Zane Waddell stuns the field as he wins the 50m backstroke at the world championships in Gwangju, South Korea, clocking 24.43 sec to to edge the Russian duo of Evgeny Rylov and Kliment Kolesnikov.

2019 — A below-strength Bafana Bafana lose to Lesotho for the first time, going down 2-3 after a late strike in the first leg of their African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier at Setsoto Stadium in Maseru. The SA side featured five new caps and was captained by  Tercious Malepe.