Cape Town - Blitzboks travelling reserve Francois Hougaard has received warm praise for offering his medal to injured team-mate Seabelo Senatla who was forced to miss the bronze medal match.
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Due to a wrist injury, Senatla was forced out of both the Blitzboks' semi-final defeat to Great Britain and the 3rd/4th victory over Japan.
Hougaard replaced Senatla for those final two matches.
Rightly or wrongly, IOC regulations meant Senatla would not be one of the 12 players who stood on the podium and received a medal, despite having played in the early group matches.
Speaking exclusively to Sport24 after the medal ceremony, Senatla revealed that Hougaard had offered him his medal.
"It's only fair. If the other guys come in it means that my name is taken off the list and they have to be there," he said.
"Hougie (Hougaard) wanted to give it to me ... I was like 'No, no ... you keep it. Your name is on the list.'
"He's a very good guy and he wanted to give it to me. It's a procedure so I only think it's right. It doesn't matter how much time I got or how much time he played ... at the end of the day that's how it went."
Hougaard took to social media shortly after the match to write that he did indeed give Senatla his medal as he "deserved it more".
Hougaard received warm praise for his gesture, from among others former Springbok Andre Snyman.
Senatla's wrist injury is expected to keep the speedster out of action for up to two months.
@Sport24news I gave Sea my medal before I left as I believe he deserves it more. The medal is really special to me but he deserves it ????
— Francois Hougaard (@Francoishougi) August 12, 2016
.@Francoishougi .@Sport24news respect
— Andre Snyman (@RaptorsCoach) August 12, 2016
@Francoishougi @Sport24news what a man well done Hougie ????
— Org Strauss (@orgstrauss) August 12, 2016
@Francoishougi @Sport24news Ek is vandag so trots op jou. Jys voorbeeld vir elke jong sports persoon in ons land. Trots om jou agent te wees
— Gert van der Merwe (@GertvdMerwe3) August 12, 2016
@Francoishougi @MarcoBotha @Sport24news Hougi you have a golden heart!! Wow!! Special player!!! You should be playing for the GriQuas!!
— ivan coetzee (@ivanjackcoetzee) August 12, 2016
@Francoishougi @Sport24news What a legend, bronze winner, heart of gold, sidestep from hell!!!
— Mthokozisi Nozibele (@Mthoko_The_H) August 12, 2016