CHAD le Clos delivered a golden sunset yesterday to cap Team South Africa's best day of the Commonwealth Games yet. Le Clos, Cameron van der Burgh, Fanie van der Merwe and the men's trips lawn bowlers cashed in four gold medals that, at least temporarily, saw SA leap-frog up the medals table from seventh position to fourth.
Le Clos bagged his fifth medal and second gold of the Games when he won the 100m butterfly in a Games record 51.29sec – the best time in the world so far this year.
Van der Burgh avenged his 100m breaststroke defeat to Englishman Adam Peaty by edging him in the 50m breaststroke, holding on to win by two-hundredths of a second. His 26.76 was also a Games record.
An emotional Van der Burgh, the defending Commonwealth and reigning world champion, said afterwards: "It was one of the hardest races. The last 48 hours have been difficult. After the 100m I had no motivation. I used to come out with this fire in my chest. It's been very emotional. My mom and I have been talking a lot. But now I have found that fire again."
Van der Burg dismissed suggestions that he was close to retirement. "Rio 2016 is definitely on the cards," he said.
Cerebral palsy sprinter Van der Merwe, the Paralympic champion in 2008 and 2012, snatched up the Games title ahead of second- placed countryman Charl du Toit.
The bowlers, with two novices, downed Northern Ireland 19-10 in the morning.
Prince Neluonde, who started playing bowls just four years ago, and Pierre Breitenbach, who received a late call-up to Scotland, played like stars alongside veteran skip Bobby Donnelly.
It was SA's third gold in lawn bowls, and they lead the medals table in that sport.
Neluonde, who hails from the Bryanston Sports Club, is the first black South African to represent the country at lawn bowls.
He started out as a greenkeeper at the club, like his father, Bennett, before him, and he has never looked back since showing promise in his first tournament.
"Most of my friends say they don't want to play bowls, they want to play soccer," Neluonde, who has since been promoted to barman, said. "There's no money in bowls, they say."
Esmari van Reenen captured a silver in the women's 50m rifle prone, and she will hunt another medal today in the 50m rifle three position.
East London-based boxers Ayabonga Sonjica, Siphiwe Lusizi and Tulz Mbenge all won their round-of-16 bouts to advance to the quarterfinals tomorrow. Victory in their next bouts will guarantee them medals.
On the athletics track, Wayde van Niekerk easily progressed past the 400m heats.
But it was not all fun for SA.
Simon Magakwe, who broke the 10-second barrier in Pretoria earlier this year, and young Akani Simbine failed to qualify for tonight's 100m final.
And the men's hockey team were downed 6-0 by Australia. - David Isaacson