The lanky 23 year-old from Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape finished runner-up her semifinal encounter earlier today, showing steely nerves by getting the score she required in the final minute, to reach the last four in the event.
Competing against best friend and current WSL No. 4 Johanne Defay and her French teammate Pauline Ado, along with two-time former ISA finalist Leilani McGonagle (Costa Rica), Buitendag struggled to find waves with scoring potential in the weak, knee-high surf at Grande Plage.
It was Ado who led from the outset of the 25 minute final heat, and although Defay stayed in contention, Ado went on to claim the first Gold Medal presented at the Games. Defay held on to earn the Silver medal, McGonagle took Bronze and Buitendag Copper.
The South African team captain had advanced through four rounds of cutthroat competition on Saturday and Sunday, winning three heats and finishing runner-up in one, and posted the highest single ride score of the entire event, a near perfect 9.0 out of 10, in her opening heat.
