Bridgitte Hartley competes in the women's kayak single K1 500m semifinal at the Eton Dorney during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Picture: REUTERS
Bridgitte Hartley competes in the women's kayak single K1 500m semifinal at the Eton Dorney during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Picture: REUTERS

BRIDGITTE Hartley won South Africa's first bronze medal at the Olympic Games, in the women's kayak single K1 500m race at Eton Dorney on Thursday.

Hartley crossed the line in one minute, 52.923 seconds (1:52.923).

The gold medal went to Danuta Kozak of Hungary who finished in 1:51.456, followed a second later by Ukrainian Inna Osypenko-Radomska in 1:52.685.

South Africa now boast three gold medals, one silver and one bronze, lying in 20th position on the medals table.

Hartley set an unofficial world record last year in the K1 500m race.

In 2008 Hartley paddled her way into the canoeing history books by winning South Africa’s first gold medal at a sprinting World Cup regatta when she won the women’s 1000m A final in Poland.

Sapa