Roland Schoeman makes a splash in racial storm
Olympic icon Roland Schoeman has voiced his political views in no uncertain terms in a series of racially charged social media exchanges.
Former superstar Olympian Roland Schoeman, who was a member of the South African swimming team at the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Games, is undoubtedly one of the most well-known SA sports personalities.
The 44-year-old has moved into the business of real estate after hanging up his swimming cap, and remains an active social media user who has used the platform to express a strong political stance on many occasions.
This past weekend a social media storm erupted as Schoeman responded to a host of questions and accusations, which particularly saw him engage in a heated exchange with famed South African influencer and media personality Robert Marawa.
In one example, Schoeman stated: “If you believe in discrimination, own it. If you think exclusion is justified, stand by it. But don’t dress it up as ‘equality’ or ‘justice.’ And while you’re at it, stop hiding behind fake names and profile pictures. If you’re so sure of your beliefs, say them with your real name. Otherwise, you’re just a coward screaming.”
This drew a pointed reply from Marawa, who wrote: “If it wasn’t for democracy and inclusivity, you’d NEVER have smelt an Olympic medal. Which South Africa did you represent??”
To which Schoeman continued: “Robert, I represented South Africa, the whole country, not just the parts you choose to acknowledge. My medals weren’t handed to me out of ‘inclusivity’; they were earned through decades of sacrifice, discipline, and world-class performance. If democracy meant handing out Olympic medals for free, you’d have one too. But it doesn’t work that way, does it?”
And on and on it went, with the racial undertones and political divisions once again underscoring some of the tensions that are running deep in South Africa at the moment.
YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS RESPONSES AND EXCHANGES FROM ROLAND SCHOEMAN BELOW:
As a reminder, Schoeman’s greatest success as an Olympian would come at the 2004 Games in Athens.
In the 4x100m freestyle relay, Schoeman, swimming the leadoff leg, put the South African team into a lead that they would never relinquish. He was followed in the pool by Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neethling.
When Neethling touched the wall to complete the race, the South Africans had not only won by 1.19 seconds, they had broken the world and the Olympic records set at the last edition of the Games.
Schoeman went on to take two more medals in individual events. In the 100m freestyle, he was just edged at the end by Pieter van den Hoogenband, who beat Roland by only six hundredths of a second. Schoeman completed his set of medals with a bronze in the 50 freestyle, finishing only nine hundredths of a second behind winner Gary Hall.
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