Viljoen hurls her way to silver medal

Cape Town - Sunette Viljoen took silver in the javelin for Team South Africa at the Rio Olympics, putting four years of heartache to bed.

In London in 2012, Viljoen watched in agony as the bronze medal slipped through her fingers with the final throw of the competition.

In Rio however, things were different.

Taking the lead (64.92m) with her very first throw, Viljoen's mark held up until the fourth round of throws (of six) before Croatia's Sara Kolak sent the javelin soaring out to 66.18m to claim gold.

Silver was the very least Viljoen, a stalwart in South African Olympic and World Championship teams, deserved.

@Sunette_Viljoen Well done my friend so proud of you.. Enjoy your night.. God bless you..

— Caster Semenya (@caster800m) August 19, 2016

Superb performance by @Sunette_Viljoen to grab Silver in the javelin - what an epic #ThatsGold moment @SuperSportTV

— Ryk Neethling (@RykNeethling) August 19, 2016

Fun Fact: @Sunette_Viljoen played one Test and 17 ODIs for South Africa women's national cricket team! pic.twitter.com/4aZKzaVybB

— Sportingbet SA (@SportingbetSA) August 19, 2016

Congratulations to ex-South Africa Women's cricketer Sunette Viljoen on her Silver Medal in the #Javelin at #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/y5XRh1r5l8

— ICC (@ICC) August 19, 2016

We congratulate @Sunette_Viljoen on her #Silver Medal at the #Rio2016 #Olympics ???? Dankie! pic.twitter.com/dtHtghjQEY

— South African Gov (@GovernmentZA) August 19, 2016