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South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh won Africa’s first medal at the ongoing 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

The 28-year-old came second in the 100m breaststroke final with a time of 58.69 seconds, losing out on the gold to Britain’s Adam Peaty, who won the race in a world record time of 57.13.

Van der Burgh adds the silver Olympic medal to the gold he won in the same event in London four years ago.

Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa competes in the Men's 100m Breaststroke heat 5 on Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. © Adam Pretty/Getty

The silver is Africa’s first medal at Rio 2016, with the competition only three days old at this stage, and the continent set to earn many more medals in the next two weeks.

The South Africa is set to compete in two more swimming events this week, with the men’s 200m breaststroke heats beginning on Tuesday, and the men’s 4x100m medley relay taking place on Friday.