Team South Africa’s Olympic representation grew further with the naming of another squad of athletes and officials to attend the Tokyo Olympics. This was the second squad announcement following the first one last month.
At a live television announcement on SABC on Thursday night, more representatives across 10 codes were named – athletics, cycling, rowing, sailing, sevens rugby, skateboarding, surfing, swimming, triathlon and waterpolo.
Two more medal candidates were added to the squad that had been omitted from the first list of names last month. Olympic 400m gold medallist Wayde van Niekerk has subsequently qualified for Tokyo as has surfing’s Jordy Smith. Cycling’s Stefan De Bod is also added to cycling’s list as a replacement for Daryl Impey, who withdrew due to injury. Rowing, where the men’s four are considered medal candidates, also had their participation rubber-stamped.
Tennis player Lloyd Harris had been selected to go to Tokyo, but withdrew citing a difficult schedule and fatigue from the Covid-19 bio bubbles.
The qualification process is still ongoing for some sports and end on 29 June 2021. More names will be released after that date.
At the last Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Team South Africa won 10 medals, which was an increase on the six medals that were won at London 2012.
There are 29 days to go to the Games which run from 23 July to 8 August.
MEN’S RUGBY SEVENS
Sakoyisa Makata, Dylan Sage, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Angelo Davids, JC Pretorius, Branco du Preez, Selvyn Davids, Justin Geduld, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Stedman Gans, Ronald Brown, Lubalalo Dobela, Chris Dry, Muller du Plessis, Ruhan Nel
Coaches and management: Neil Powell, Renfred Dazel, Ghafoer Luckan, Ashley Evert
WOMEN’S WATERPOLO
Amica Hallenndorff, Shakira January, Meghan Maartens, Chloe Meecham, Georgie Moir, Boati Motau, Hannah Muller, Daniela Passoni, Megan Sileno, Ashleigh Vaughn, Jordan Wedderburn, Kelsey White. Reserve: Yanah Gerber
Coaches and management: Candice Williams, Delaine Mentor, Duncan Woods
MEN’S WATERPOLO
Ignardus Badenhorst, Devon Card, Jason Evezard, Cameron Laurenson, Lwazi Madi, Farouk Mayman, Yaseen Margro, Liam Neill, Roarke Olver, Nicholas Rodda, Donn Stewart, Ross Stone, Gareth May
Coaches and management: Rowen Meth, Paul Martin, Vaughan Marlow
SWIMMING
Tatjana Schoenmaker, Kaylene Corbett, Emma Chelius, Erin Gallagher, Ethan du Preez, Chad le Clos, Pieter Coetze, Bradley Tandy, Michael Houlie, Matthew Sates, Women’s 4x100m medley relay (Mariella Venter, Tatjana Schoenmaker, Erin Gallagher, Aimee Canny)
Artistic swimming: Laura Strugnell, Clarissa Johnston
Coaches and management: Vicky Drinkwater
SKATEBOARDING
Melissa Williams, Andre Oberholzer, Boipelo Awuah, Brandon Valjalo
Coaches and management: Wendy Gila
TRIATHLON
Gillian Sanders, Henri Schoeman, Simon Ackermann, Richard Murray
Coaches and management: Kate Murray, Lindsey Parry
SAILING
Leo Davis
Coaches and management: Victor Davis
SURFING
Jordy Smith
Coaches and management: Isaac February
ROWING
Lawrence Brittain, John Smith, Sandro Torrento, Kyle Schoonbee, Jake Green, Luc Daffarn
Coaches and management: Roger Barrow, Marco Galeone
ATHLETICS
Kyle Blignaut, Marc Mundell, Wayde van Niekerk, Gift Leotlela, Shaun Maswanganyi
Coaches and management: Jean Verster, Hezekiel Sepeng, Paul Gorries, Irma Reyneke, Hendrik Ramaala, Pierre Blignaut, Jennifer Kingwell
CYCLING
Stefan De Bod