By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) president Barry Hendricks believes the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris from 26 July to 11 August will bring the nation together.
The national Olympic federation has already announced 39 athletes for the Games, with another announcement made earlier today.
Hendricks, who is in his final year of office with elections for a new board set to take place after the Paralympics Games in September, said that they are sending a team of 230 athletes, including support staff, to Paris.
He announced second group of athletes who have qualified for the Olympic Games, stating that this is a significant step in acknowledging the remarkable achievements of our athletes. This moment also marks a new milestone for our organisation as we continue our commitment to deliver a strong and competitive Team SA for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games”.
Included in today’s announcement was the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay squad, which both qualified at the World Relay Championships recently held in the Bahamas.
Significant other names added to Team SA include Johanita Scholtz, a double African Games gold medallist in badminton, Henri Schoeman, a triathlete, and John Smith, a rower.
Smith, who won gold in London 2012, will attend his fourth Olympics, which will equal the tally of most ever by a South African. Schoeman will be at his third Games and is also a former medallist (bronze at Rio 2016).
The women’s sevens rugby squad is a preliminary squad with the final team to be announced before the end of June cut-off.
Names released on Wednesday are:
ATHLETICS (14)
Men: Shaun Maswangani (200m, 4x100m), Francois Prinsloo (discus), Elroy Galant (marathon), Akani Simbine (4x100m), Bayanda Walaza (4x100m), Bradley Nkoana (4x100m), Benjamin Richardson (4x100m), Wayde van Niekerk (4x400m), Lythe Pillay (4x400m), Zakithi Nene (4x400m), Gardeo Isaacs (4x400m), Antonie Nortje (4x400m)
Reserves: Sinesipho Dambile, Adrian Swart
Management: Jean Verster, Hezekiel Sepeng, Paul Gorries, Maritz Coetzee, Samuel Sepeng, Mike Mbambani, John Smit, Neil Cornelius
ARCHERY (1)
Men: Wian Roux (recurve)
Coach/Manager: Patrick Roux
BADMINTON (1)
Women: Johanita Scholtz
Coach/Manager: Dillan Schaap
CYCLING (7)
Men: Ryan Gibbons (road), Jean Spies (track), Alan Hatherley (MTB)
Women: Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (road), Tiffany Keep (road), Candice Lill (MTB), Miyanda Maseti (BMX)
Management: Ciska du Plessis-Austin, Nicole Shuttlewortth, Benedict Moqumo, Barry Austin, Jean-Pierre Jacobs, Tyler Klumper, Brigitte Mileson
FENCING (1)
Men: Harry Saner (epee)
Coach/Manager: Guennadi Tychler
HOCKEY (36)
Men: Daniel Bell, Dayaan Cassiem, Mustapha Cassiem, Calvin Davis, Matthew Guise-Brown, Andrew Hobson, Keenan Horne, Gowan Jones, Ryan Julius, Tevin Kok, Zenani Kraai, Samkelo Mvimbi, Nqobile Ntuli, Bradley Sherwood, Nicholas Spooner, Jacques van Tonder
Reserves: Hendrik Kriek, Nduduza (Peabo) Lembethe
Management: Donavin George, Cheslin Chie, Siphesihle Ntuli, Devon van der Merwe
Women: Taheera Augousti, Quanita Bobbs, Stephanie Botha, Dirkie Chamberlain, Erin Christie, Kayla de Waal, Paris-Gail Isaacs, Marie Antoinette Louw, Ongeziwe Mali, Ntsopa Mokoena, Edith Molikoe, Kristen Paton, Hannah Pearce, Celia Seerane, Anelle van Deventer, Onthatile Zulu
Reserves: Aphiwe Dimba, Kayla Swarts
Management: Lynn Abrahamse, Giles Bonnet, Marcelle Keet, Wayne Lombard
ROWING (2)
Men: John Smith (pair), Christopher Baxter (pair)
Coach/Manager: Tiago Loureiro
RUGBY WOMEN SEVENS (16)
Women: Liske Lategan, Ayanda Malinga, Shona-Leah Weston, Kemisetso Baloyi, Zintle Mpupha, Sizophila Solontsi, Mathrin Simmers, Nadine Roos, Elizabeth Janse van Rensburg, Veroeshka Grain, Marlize de Bruin, Maria Tshiremba, Byrhabdre Dolf, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Zandile Masuku, Eloise Web
Management: Mokgatjane Leseke, Renfred Dazel, Cecil Afrika, Obakeng Molopyane
TRIATHLON (3)
Men: Henri Schoeman, Jamie Riddle
Women: Vicky van der Merwe
Management: Riana Robertson, Lindsey Parry
Nozipho Jafta, the CEO of SASCOC, expressed her excitement with the announcement of the team. “SASCOC has aimed to support all the sporting codes to achieve Olympic qualification. Through the Bidvest OPEX programme, which continues to support the athletes and teams, SASCOC has seen the fruits of the investment in the athletes, not only for qualification for Paris 2024, but also looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028”, she said.
A final squad announcement will be made at a later date, before the final cut off at the end of June 2024.
Financial Incentives:
SASCOC has also announced further financial incentives for those athletes and teams that will earn medals in Paris.
For relays and team sports (Hockey and Rugby):
o An amount of R 100 000 per athlete and the coach for a gold medal;
o R 75 000 per athlete and the coach for a silver medal; and
o R 50 000 per athlete and the coach for a bronze medal.
Boats (2 people), in line with the May incentives announced:
o R 200 000 per athlete and R 100 000 for the coach for a gold medal;
o R 100 000 per athlete and R 50 000 for the coach for a silver medal;
o R 40 000 per athlete and R 20 000 for coach for a bronze medal.
Financial incentives announced last month for Team SA medallists at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
o Athletes who win gold will be awarded R 400 000, with the coach receiving R 100 000.
o Silver medallists will earn R 200 000 and R 50 000; while
o Bronze medal pay-outs will be R 75 000 and R 25 000 for the athlete and coach, respectively.
The updated Team SA squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics is:
AQUATICS (9) Men: Pieter Coetze (100m, 200m backstroke), Chad le Clos (100m butterfly), Matthew Sates (100m, 200m butterfly and 200m IM) Women: Aimee Canny (200m freestyle), Kaylene Corbett (200m breaststroke), Erin Gallagher (100m butterfly), Rebecca Meder (200m IM), Tatjana Smith (100m, 200m breaststroke), Julia Vincent (diving, 3m springboard)
ARCHERY (1)
Men: Wian Roux (recurve)
Coach/Manager: Patrick Roux
ATHLETICS (19) Men: Luxolo Adams (200m), Elroy Galant (marathon), Gardeo Isaacs (4x400m), Shaun Maswangani (200m, 4x100m), Stephen Mokoka (marathon), Zakithi Nene (400m, 4x400m), Bradley Nkoana (4x100m), Antonie Nortje (4x400m), Lythe Pillay (400m, 4x400m), Francois Prinsloo (discus), Benjamin Richardson (200m, 4x100m), Akani Simbine (100m, 4x100m), Tshepo Tshite (1500m), Wayde van Niekerk (400m, 4x400m), Jovan van Vuuren (long jump), Bayanda Walaza (4x100m), Adriaan Wildschutt (5000m, 10000m) Women: Marione Fourie (100mH), Zeney Geldenhuys (400mH), Rogail Joseph (400mH), Cian Oldknow (marathon), Prudence Sekgodiso (800m), Gerda Steyn (marathon), Irvette van Zyl (marathon)
Reserves: Sinesipho Dambile, Adrian Swart
Management: Jean Verster, Hezekiel Sepeng, Paul Gorries, Maritz Coetzee, Samuel Sepeng, Mike Mbambani, John Smit, Neil Cornelius
BADMINTON (1)
Women: Johanita Scholtz
Coach/Manager: Dillan Schaap
CANOEING (4) Men: Andrew Birkett (kayak sprint), Hamish Love more (kayak sprint) Women: Tiffany Koch (kayak sprint), Esti Olivier (kayak sprint) Management: Nkosi Mzolo (coach), Janet Simpkins (manager)
CYCLING (7)
Men: Ryan Gibbons (road), Jean Spies (track), Alan Hatherley (MTB)
Women: Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (road), Tiffany Keep (road), Candice Lill (MTB), Miyanda Maseti (BMX)
Management: Ciska du Plessis-Austin, Nicole Shuttlewortth, Benedict Moqumo, Barry Austin, Jean-Pierre Jacobs, Tyler Klumper, Brigitte Mileson
GYMNASTICS (1) Women: Caitlin Rooskrantz (artistic) Coach/Manager: Ilse Pelser (coach)
HOCKEY (36)
Men: Daniel Bell, Dayaan Cassiem, Mustapha Cassiem, Calvin Davis, Matthew Guise-Brown, Andrew Hobson, Keenan Horne, Gowan Jones, Ryan Julius, Tevin Kok, Zenani Kraai, Samkelo Mvimbi, Nqobile Ntuli, Bradley Sherwood, Nicholas Spooner, Jacques van Tonder
Reserves: Hendrik Kriek, Nduduza (Peabo) Lembethe
Management: Donavin George, Cheslin Chie, Siphesihle Ntuli, Devon van der Merwe
Women: Taheera Augousti, Quanita Bobbs, Stephanie Botha, Dirkie Chamberlain, Erin Christie, Kayla de Waal, Paris-Gail Isaacs, Marie Antoinette Louw, Ongeziwe Mali, Ntsopa Mokoena, Edith Molikoe, Kristen Paton, Hannah Pearce, Celia Seerane, Anelle van Deventer, Onthatile Zulu
Reserves: Aphiwe Dimba, Kayla Swarts
Management: Lynn Abrahamse, Giles Bonnet, Marcelle Keet, Wayne Lombard
FENCING (1)
Men: Harry Saner (epee)
Coach/Manager: Guennadi Tychler
ROWING (2)
Men: John Smith (pair), Christopher Baxter (pair)
Coach/Manager: Tiago Loureiro
RUGBY WOMEN SEVENS (16)
Women: Liske Lategan, Ayanda Malinga, Shona-Leah Weston, Kemisetso Baloyi, Zintle Mpupha, Sizophila Solontsi, Mathrin Simmers, Nadine Roos, Elizabeth Janse van Rensburg, Veroeshka Grain, Marlize de Bruin, Maria Tshiremba, Byrhabdre Dolf, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Zandile Masuku, Eloise Web
Management: Mokgatjane Leseke, Renfred Dazel, Cecil Afrika, Obakeng Molopyane
SPORT CLIMBING (4) Men: Joshua Bruyns (speed climbing), Mel Janse van Rensburg (lead & boulder) Women: Aniya Holder (speed climbing), Lauren Mukheibir (lead & boulder) Management: Dean Bruyns (manager), John-David Muller (official coach)
SURFING (3) Men: Matthew McGillivray, Jordy Smith Women: Sarah Ann Baum Management: Christopher Bond (coach), Rezar De Nicker (coach, manager)
TRIATHLON (3)
Men: Henri Schoeman, Jamie Riddle
Women: Vicky van der Merwe
Management: Riana Robertson, Lindsey Parry
WRESTLING (1) Men: Nicholas Steyn (92kg) Coach/Manager: Jan Roets.