News24 | Now or never: SA record holder Akani Simbine face-to-face with moment of Olympic medal truth
- ByEmily Gonzalez --
- 2024-08-04 04:46:16 --
- 0 Comments --
- ZAF
With most of Team SA's medallists so far having overcome great odds, Akani Simbine is hoping it is a good omen after being dogged by the worst podium luck at major championships.
South African sprinter Akani Simbine and fellow sprinters are through to the Paris Olympics semi-finals of the Men's 100m. Simbine, won his heat while fellow runner Shaun Maswanganyi finished third in his heat to book a seat for the trio, while Benjamin Richardson advanced as the fastest non-automatic qualifier.
Simbine was the most impressive of the South African contingent when he won his heat in 10.03 seconds. There were faster winning times in the other heats, but Simbine had to contend with the strongest headwind of the eight heats. The top three in each heat qualified outright, and Maswangwanyi secured his spot in a race that featured one of the favourites, American Noah Lyles.
The South African had the fastest reaction time out of the blocks, but Lyles and Louie Hinchliffe of Great Britain overtook him towards the end. Hinchliffe won the heat in 9-point-9-8 also into a headwind. Lyles recorded a 10-zero-4 and Maswanganyi a 10-06.
Richardson's heat, on the other hand, featured defending Olympic champion Lamont Jacobs of Italy. Nigeria's Ajayi Kayinsola won in 10-02 and Jacobs was second in 10-05. Richardson came home in 4th place with a time of 10-06, which was the fastest 4th place time of all the heats.
And Letsile Tebogo of Botswana also reached the semi-final round, finishing 2nd in his heat. American Fred Kerley won the heat in 9.97, while Tebogo recorded a 10-01.
The semi-finals and finals take place on Sunday night.
"Double the pride, double the excitement! Akani Simbine and Shaun Maswanganyi are through to the Semi-finals of the Men's 100m. Keep cheering for our #TeamSA athletes! #ForMyCountry #Olympics2024"
Meanwhile, the South African women's hockey team ended the group stage without a win when the USA beat the Proteas 1-0 in their final group match. The South Africans finished 6th and last in Pool B, and the USA finished 5th.
And South African rower, Paige Badenhorst, finished her Olympic campaign with a 2nd place finish in the C final of the Women's Single Sculls. It gave her a final position of 14th overall in the event.
Rebecca Meder shines for team SA on Day 7 of Paris Olympics
South African swimmer, Rebecca Meder, was the lone shining light for Team South Africa in the morning session of day seven of the Olympic Games in Paris. Team South Africa was represented in swimming, track and field, and rowing.
South Africa's Rowing Pair of John Smith and Christopher Baxter finished third in the Men's Pairs B-final. Meder managed to advance to the semifinals in the Women's 200m individual medley. South Africa's pair of Chad Le Clos and Matthew Sates failed to make it past the heats in the men's 100m butterfly.
In the first round of the men's 1500m of track and field, neither Tshepo Tshite nor Ryan Mphahlele managed to automatically qualify for Sunday's semi-finals. However, Tshite's time of 3:36.87 seconds was good enough for a place in Saturday's repechage, where runners will have a second crack at qualifying for the semis.
Rebecca Meder finished 11th overall and missed out on the Women's 200m Individual Medley final, but she set a new SA record and personal best.
Dynamic SA trio qualifies for Olympics semis after electric sprint
South African sprinter Akani Simbine and fellow sprinters are through to the Paris Olympics semi-finals of the Men's 100m. Simbine, won his heat while fellow runner Shaun Maswanganyi finished third in his heat to book a seat for the trio while Benjamin Richardson advanced as the fastest non-automatic qualifier.
Simbine was the most impressive of the South African contingent when he won his heat in 10.03 seconds. There were faster winning times in the other heats, but Simbine had to contend with the strongest headwind of the eight heats. The top three in each heat qualified outright and Maswangwanyi secured his spot in a race that featured one of the favourites, American Noah Lyles.
The South African had the fastest reaction time out of the blocks, but Lyles and Louie Hinchliffe of Great Britain overtook him towards the end. Hinchliffe won the heat in 9-point-9-8 also into a headwind. Lyles recorded a 10-zero-4 and Maswanganyi a 10-06.
Richardson's heat, on the other hand, featured defending Olympic champion Lamont Jacobs of Italy. Nigeria's Ajayi Kayinsola won in 10-02 and Jacobs was second in 10-05. Richardson came home in 4th place with a time of 10-06, which was the fastest 4th place time of all the heats.
And Letsile Tebogo of Botswana also reached the semi-final round, finishing 2nd in his heat. American Fred Kerley won the heat in 9.97, while Tebogo recorded a 10-01.
The semi-finals and finals take place on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the South African women's hockey team ended the group stage without a win when the USA beat the Proteas 1-0 in their final group match. The South Africans finished 6th and last in Pool B, and the USA finished 5th.
And South African rower, Paige Badenhorst, finished her Olympic campaign with a 2nd place finish in the C final of the Women's Single Sculls. It gave her a final position of 14th overall in the event.
- Akani Simbine won his heat in the Men's 100m with a time of 10.03 seconds.
- Shaun Maswanganyi finished third in his heat to qualify for the semi-finals.
- Benjamin Richardson advanced as the fastest non-automatic qualifier.
- Letsile Tebogo of Botswana also reached the semi-final round, finishing 2nd in his heat.
The South African sprinters have put in impressive performances, and they will be hoping to continue their momentum in the semi-finals and finals on Sunday night. With most of Team SA's medallists so far having overcome great odds, Akani Simbine is hoping it is a good omen after being dogged by the worst podium luck at major championships.
The South African women's hockey team and rower Paige Badenhorst also had mixed results, but the focus remains on the track and field events, where the country is hoping to add to its medal tally.