Summary of the Story:
- Team SA has four medals: Tatjana Smith (gold and silver), men’s sevens rugby (bronze), and Alan Hatherly (bronze).
- Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout competed in men’s golf.
- Chad le Clos was eliminated in the men’s 100m butterfly heats.
- South African athletes are set to compete in rowing, hockey, and athletics on Saturday.
Team South Africa continues their campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics with events in rowing, hockey, and athletics on Saturday.
Team SA at Paris Olympics: How are we doing so far?
Team South Africa started Friday with four medals: Tatjana Smith secured gold and silver, the men’s sevens rugby team won bronze, and Alan Hatherly also earned a bronze medal.
These achievements lifted South Africa to 18th place on the overall medal table.
As of now, China leads with 13 golds, followed by France with 11, Australia with 10, and both Great Britain and the United States with nine golds each.
In golf, Erik van Rooyen posted a second-round 69, adding to his opening 67, putting him on six-under 136 at the halfway mark.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout carded a second-round 71, resulting in a total of 141. Despite finishing with a double-bogey on the 18th, Bezuidenhout remains competitive.
Chad le Clos, a four-time Olympian, was eliminated in the heats of the men’s 100m butterfly, visibly distraught due to a shoulder injury that hindered his performance.
In athletics, Prudence Sekgodiso impressed by finishing second in her 800m heat with a time of 1:59.84, securing a spot in the semi-finals.
However, Kyle Blignaut did not advance in the men’s shot put, and Adriaan Wildschutt placed 10th in the men’s 10,000m final.
The men’s hockey team recorded their first win of the Olympics, defeating hosts France 5-2.
In rowing, John Smith and Christopher Baxter finished 3rd in the men’s pair B final, placing them 9th overall.
Team South Africa schedule for Saturday, 3 August 2024
The Olympic action continues with Team SA competing in rowing, hockey, and athletics on Saturday.
Saturday, 3 August 2024:
- 09:30: Rowing (Women’s Single Sculls final) – Paige Badenhorst
- 13:15: Hockey (Women’s) – South Africa vs USA
- 19:15: Athletics (Men’s 1,500m) – Tshepho Tshite; Ryan Mphahlele
This schedule marks another crucial day for Team SA as they strive for more success in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
