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On a thrilling Sunday, 4 August 2024, at the Paris Olympics 2024, Team South Africa captures the spotlight as their men’s 100m sprinters take centre stage in a high-stakes dash for glory.

Also read: The cost of hosting the Olympics: South Africa’s potential bid

Team South Africa has three sprinters advancing to the men’s 100m semi-finals, each positioned in a different heat.

With only the top two finishers from each semi-final, plus the next two fastest overall, securing a spot in the final, Mzansi’s athletes will be aiming to ensure at least one of them makes it to the decisive race.

Shaun Maswanganyi faces a formidable challenge in the first semi-final at 20:05 (SA time), going up against gold medal favourite Noah Lyles from the United States, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, and Great Britain’s Louie Hinchliffe, among others.

Akani Simbine will compete in the second semi-final at 20:14 (SA time), facing stiff competition from Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake, defending Olympic 100m champion Lamont Jacobs of Italy, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, and American Kenny Bednarek, all of whom are strong contenders.

Benjamin Richardson, who advanced to the semi-finals as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers, faces a tough challenge to make the final. At 20:23 (SA time), he will compete against Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, American Fred Kerley, Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, and Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, among others.

Team South Africa began the day with a total of four medals: Tatjana Smith secured gold and silver, the men’s rugby sevens team earned a bronze, and Alan Hatherly also claimed a bronze. This impressive haul has positioned them in a tie for 27th place on the overall medal table.

Team South Africa athletes in action on Sunday, 4 August 2024: 

Athletics:

  • Men’s long jump qualification, Group A (11:00): Jovan van Vuuren
  • Men’s long jump qualification, Group B (11:00): Cheswill Johnson
  • Women’s 400m H, first round, heats (12:43): Rogail Joseph
  • Women’s 400m H, first round, heats (12:51): Zeney Gledenhuys
  • Men’s 400m, round 1 heats (19:21): Lythe Pillay
  • Men’s 400m, round 1 heats (19:37): Zakhiti Nene
  • Men’s 100m, semi-finals (20:05): Shaun Maswanganyi
  • Men’s 100m, semi-finals (20:14): Akani Simbine
  • Men’s 100m, semi-finals (20:23): Benjamin Richardson
  • Women’s 800m, semi-finals (20:55): Prudence Sekgodiso

Cycling:

  • Women’s road race (14:00): Tiffany Keep, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio

Golf:

Men’s Individual, fourth round

  • Erik van Rooyen – 11:44
  • Christiaan Bezuidenhout – 11:55

Also read:

In Pictures: Day 7 of the Paris Olympics 2024

Picture: FJ Meintjies / Gallo

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