[imagesource:instagram/@antongeysersportsimages/joanevdyk]

Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has vowed to cover the expenses for the parents of Olympic javelin silver medalist Jo-Ane van Dyk.

Van Dyk clinched her medal despite minimal backing from official channels at home, so McKenzie’s gesture is a crucial sign of support and recognition.

Her parents, unwavering in their support, emptied their pockets to fund her continued competition after she completed her studies in Potchefstroom. But now McKenzie is saying the Van Dyks will be reimbursed for every cent spent in preparing and getting her to France.

McKenzie said he spoke to the family as soon as all the medallists – including Tatjana Smith, Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana – were welcomed back from Paris at OR Tambo International Airport, per SowetanLive.

“She is everywhere in the media complaining her parents had to use their last money to get her there. I had a long chat and listened to her and I promise we are going to make sure we give her father his money back.

“I am told her father put himself in debt and I commit today publicly the department should give him his money back because that investment paid off.”

Shortly after she won her medal, TimesLIVE reported Van Dyk had described her journey as “so very difficult”.

“I have been supported by my parents because they believed in me and in the passion I have. It was quite difficult. It’s difficult when everybody else is moving on with their lives and earning salaries and I’m here, trying and still trying,” she said.

“This nonsense will not happen under my watch,” McKenzie said when responding to Van Dyk’s story.

“I want to profusely apologise to all athletes who experienced the same. You have my absolute word that things will be different and better for our athletes in the future.”

In case you need to see it to believe it:

Sport Minister Gayton Mckenzie says the department will reimburse the parents of Olympic javelin silver medalist Jo-Ane van Dyk. pic.twitter.com/hsSxzEBd8e

— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 13, 2024

McKenzie, who has been in office for just over a month now, even said he stopped superfans and officials at the department who travelled to Paris for the Olympics, saying they can’t go find love at the government’s expense.

“There are a lot of things that should not have happened such as many government officials and superfans going on these trips. People are flying business class while the athletes are struggling — even in my own office I am cutting on travelling for officials.

“Someone in my office said they want to go to Paris and I asked, ‘Which sporting code are you doing?’ They said they are going there to help but we don’t need them there — it is only people who must be there who will be there.

“We must be honest about these things.”

Van Dyk’s Olympic silver effort was one of three South African medals not funded through the Operation Excellence (OpEx) programme run by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.

Despite subtly signalling her exceptional form with a personal best throw of 64.22 meters in her sole qualifying attempt on Thursday, the 26-year-old from Heidelberg, born in Worcester, still managed to astonish everyone by seizing one of the final three field event medals available at the Olympics.

Have you read the story about her impaling a man in the chest with her javelin? She’s a real bad*ss.

[source:sowetanlive]