Team SA at Paris Olympics: Athletics starts as Chad le Clos looks to turn back the clock

South Africa’s Chad Le Clos pictured during a training session at Olympic Games in Paris. Picture: Stephane Kempinaire / KMSP via AFP

South Africa’s Chad Le Clos pictured during a training session at Olympic Games in Paris. Picture: Stephane Kempinaire / KMSP via AFP

Published Aug 2, 2024

Share

Prudence Sekgodiso will be hoping to emulate the great Caster Semenya when she takes part in the 800m heats, as the athletics program at the Paris Olympics clicks into gear.

Sekgodiso comes into the Olympics after clocking a personal best of 1:57.26 at the Diamond League meet in Marrakesh earlier this year, making her a real contender for a medal.

Ryan Mphahlele and Tshepo Tshite will be the first South Africans in action on the track on Friday when they compete in the the men’s 1500m heats.

In the golf competition, Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout will hope to make up some ground on leader Hideki Matsuyama in the second round at Le Golf National.

Van Rooyen was the best of the South African golfers as he finished on 4-under par for a tied sixth place, four behind shots the leader.

Christiaan Bezuidenhoud finished the round a little further back on 1-under, tied in 29th.

Meanwhile, in the pool, veteran Chad le Clos will be in action in the 100m butterfly heats, 12 years on from his famous gold-medal swim at the London Olympics when he beat Michael Phelps to the gold.

ATHLETICS

Men’s 1500m, round 1, heats (11.10am): Ryan Mphahlele

Men’s 1500m, round 1, heats (11.21am): Tshepo Tshite

Women’s 800m, round 1, heats (7.54pm): Prudence Sekgodiso

Men’s shot put, qualification, Group B (8.10pm): Kyle Blignaut

Men’s 10 000m, final (9.20pm): Adriaan Wildschutt

ROWING

Men’s Pair B, final (10.42am): John Smith and Christopher Baxter

GOLF

Men’s Individual, second round

9.22am: Erik van Rooyen

11.33am: Christiaan Bezuidenhout

HOCKEY

Men’s Pool A (7.45pm): South Africva vs France

SWIMMING

Men’s 100m butterfly, heats (11.03am): Matthew Sates, Clad le Clos

Women’s 200m IM, heats (11.30am): Rebecca Meder

@JohnGoliath82