Cape Town - Cameron van der Burgh's silver medal in the 100m breaststroke netted the star swimmer R200 000 from South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
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Van der Burgh, the winner of the event in London in 2012, picked up the silver medal in Sunday's race, finishing behind Great Britain's Adam Peaty.
At the announcement of the South African team to compete in Rio, SASCOC confirmed an incentive programme designed to incentivise athletes to medal at the Rio Olympics.
SASCOC promised to award all gold medalists at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games R500 000.
Of that, R400 000 would go to the athlete and the remaining R100 000 to the coach.
Silver medal winners will earn R200 000 (R50 000) for the coach, while those bagging bronze will pocket R80 000 (R20 000 for the coach).