Buitendag, who was the surprise package of the competition some 107km east of the capital city was beaten in the final by the Hawaiian surfer, Carissa Moore.

The number one ranked Moore managed to find the better points waves in the final, while the 27-year-old South African battled and had rides worth less points.

The American accumulated a total of 14.93 points to claim surfing’s first-ever Olympic gold medal.

The 17th ranked Buitendag’s scoring waves were worth 5.23 and 3.23 points leaving her with a tally of 8.46 points to clinch the silver.

The silver for Buitendag takes South Africa’s medal tally to two after the swimmer, Tatjana Schoenmaker, won silver earlier on Tuesday in the women’s 100m breaststroke at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

It’s a #silver medal for Bianca Buitendag of #RSA in the women’s #surfing#StrongerTogether | @Tokyo2020 | @ISAsurfing pic.twitter.com/FPTxPSybVj

— Olympics (@Olympics) July 27, 2021

@MorganPiek OFM Sport