SASCOC has announced the first names of the team members to compete at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 6-18 October.
Team South Africa will be represented in 19 different sports codes for these, the third Youth Olympic Games. Previously South Africa sent teams to Singapore in 2010 and Nanjing, China in 2014.
The different codes are: aquatics (diving and swimming), archery, athletics, canoeing, climbing, dance sport, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, hockey, modern pentathlon, rowing, rugby sevens, sailing, shooting, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.
Team sports traveling to South America are hockey (women) and rugby sevens (men). These names, along with archery, athletics, modern pentathlon and triathlon will be released at a later stage.
Chef de Mission for the team will be Clifford Cobers who also served in the same capacity for Team SA at the 2015 Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa.
“It’s a huge honor to lead this team of young talent to Argentina,’ said Cobers. ‘The Youth Olympics have seen South Africa developing great athletes like the much-decorated swimmer Chad le Clos.
“I have no doubt that these games will see more Olympic and Commonwealth Games stars putting their hands up on the big stage. I wish them all well and urge them to give their all on the field of play and also to act as great ambassadors for the rainbow nation.”
SASCOC President, Gideon Sam wished the team well: “The Youth Olympic Games are the third multi-coded event of the year that SASCOC have delivered a team to. And once again we are confident that this team will do the nation proud by showcasing our rich sporting talent.”
“These young sportswomen and sportsmen are the future of our sport and it’s events like the YOG that help shape their future,” Sam added.
Aquatics sees 2018 Commonwealth Games swimmers Mariella Venter, Kate Beavon, Duné Coetzee and Michael Houlie part of the squad. Just one diver will make the trip, Olivia van Vollenhoven.
TEAM NAMES (first announcement)
Aquatics
Women: Mariella Venter, Christin Mundell, Kate Beavon, Duné Coetzee
Men: Ethan Du Preez, Gabriel Nortje, Hendrik Duvenhage, Michael Houlie
Diving: Olivia van Vollenhoven
Canoeing
Lizanne Conradie, Pierre van der Westhuyzen
Climbing
David Naude, Angela Eckhardt
Dance Sport
Jordan Smith
Equestrian
Hannah Garton
Golf
Kaiyuree Moodley, Cole Stevens
Gymnastics
Lisa Conradie, Azra Devan, Ruan Lange, Rachel Nell, Sidwell Madibeng
Rowing
Liam Smit, Katherine Williams
Sailing
Dorothy Gouws
Shooting
Adriaan de Beer
Tennis
Philip Henning
Weightlifting
Jayden Pretorius
Wrestling
Fernando Booysen