Star sprinter Akani Simbine reached the final of the men’s 100m when he won his semi-final in an impressive 9.87sec, He then went even faster for a lifetime best 9.82, but had to settle for fourth, for the second successive Games.
He had reached the final as the fifth fastest qualifier after winning his semi-final in an impressive 9.87sec, having come off a 9.86 in London recently. During the week the South African had said he felt it would take a sub-9.80 would be needed to win gold.
It was busy day for Team SA at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday, with a full programme of athletics, cycling and golf.
Star sprinter Akani Simbine reached the final of the men’s 100m when he won his semi-final in an impressive 9.87sec,
Prudence Sekgodiso also showed her best form when she finished 2nd in her semi-final in 1:57.57 to qualify for the final.
In golf, Christiaan Bezuidenhout finished on 10-under-par for the week after carding a closing round of 69 for a 274 total. Erik van Rooyen finished on nine-under 275 after a closing 70. World No1 Scottie Scheffler won gold by one shot from Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood.
Team SA started the day with four medals with Tatjana Smith (gold and silver) and the men’s sevens rugby and Alan Hatherly (bronze) putting them at 24th place on the overall table. For now, the United States and China have 19 golds lead France (12) and Australia (12) in the standings.
ATHLETICS
Women’s 800m, semi-finals: Prudence Sekgodiso finished 2nd in her semi-final in 1:57.57 to qualify for the final
Men’s 100m, semi-finals: Shaun Maswanganyi finished 5th in his race in a season’s best 10.02 but didn’t progress to the final
Men’s 100m, final: Akani Simbine finished 4th in 9.82sec
Men’s 100m, semi-finals: Akani Simbine won his heat in 9.87 and progressed to the final
Men’s 100m, semi-finals: Benjamin Richardson finished 3rd in his semi-final in 9.95, just missing out on a place in the final
Men’s 400m, round 1 heats: Lythe Pillay finished 6th in his heat in 45.60 and progressed to the repechage stage
Men’s 400m, round 1 heats: Zakhiti Nene finished 4th in 45.01 and progressed to the repechage stage
Men’s long jump qualification, Group A: Jovan van Vuuren produced a best leap of 7.70m which left him in 23rd spot overall and missing out on the top 12 for the final
Men’s long jump qualification, Group B: Cheswill Johnson produced a best leap of 4.49m which left him in 31st spot overall and missing out on the top 12 for the final
Women’s 400m H, first round, heats: Rogail Joseph produced a personal best 54.56sec to finish 2nd in her heat and automatically qualify for the semi-finals
Women’s 400m H, first round, heats: Zeney Geldenhuys finished 3rd in her heat to qualify automatically for the semi-finals
CYCLING
Women’s road race: Ashleigh Moolman Pasio finished 33rd in 4hr 4min 23sec, exactly 5:00 behind gold medallist Kristen Faulkner of the USA. Tiffany Keep registered a DNF
GOLF
Men’s Individual, fourth round
274 (16th) Christiaan Bezuidenhout 70 71 64 69
275 (17th) Erik van Rooyen 67 69 69 70
Photo: ANTON GEYSER/Team SA