JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Olympic rower Ramon Di Clemente flew out of Johannesburg for Beijing Wednesday to make it his third Olympic Games in a row.

    He will be competing with his third partner after being at the top of his internationally competitive game for an incredible 12 years, the South African Press Association reported.

    Di Clemente has also claimed the South African coxless heavyweight title 11 times with three different partners.

    "Remaining at the top of your game, competing against the best of the best in the world, for over a decade is a phenomenal achievement," said Paolo Cavalieri, the former CEO of Hollard Insurance who has sponsored Di Clemente for the past eight years.

    "We have right here in South Africa one of the most incredibly talented and dedicated rowers in the world representing us in Beijing and I am flying there to enjoy the three Olympic races that Ramon will be competing in with his partner of only six months."