South Africa
From WikiRun
| South Africa (RSA) | |
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| Olympic Group | South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee |
|---|---|
| NOC Website | www.sascoc.co.za |
| Governing Body | Athletics South Africa |
| Website | www.athletics.org.za |
| Olympic Medal Count | Gold: 20 Silver: 24 Bronze: 26[1] |
Contents |
South Africa in the Olympics
South Africa first participated at the Olympic Games in 1904, and sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games until 1960. After the passage of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1761 in 1962 in response to South Africa's policy of apartheid, the nation was barred from the Games. After the negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa commenced in 1990, the nation re-joined the Olympic movement. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee was created in 1991, and South Africa returned to the Games at the 1992 Summer Olympics. South Africa also participated in the Winter Olympic Games in 1960, and since 1994.
During the years that South Africa was barred from international competition, talented South African runners sought citizenship from other countries in order to compete. For example, Zola Budd sought British citizenship in order to compete in the 1984 Summer Olympics, which was granted in an unusually short period. However, anti-apartheid demonstrators followed Budd around to her competitions in Britain.
A significant controversy surrounded the selection of the men's 4x400M relay team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, who is a double leg amputee, sought to compete on the team as an able-bodied runner. However, because he failed to meet the Olympic A Standard of 46.25 seconds, and four other South Africia runners met that standard, he was not selected for the team.
2008 Olympics
Men
- Juan van Deventer (1500m)
- Norman Dhlomo (marathon)
- Johannes Dreyer (4x100 relay)
- Leigh Julius (4x100 relay)
- Ishmael Kumbane (4x100 relay)
- Ofense Mogawane (4x400 relay)
- Khotso Mokoena (Long jump)
- Thuso Mpuang (200m)
- Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (800m)
- Sergio Mullins (4x100 relay)
- Alwyn Myburgh (400 Hurdles, 4x400 relay)
- Samson Ngoepe (800m)
- Robert Oosthuizen (Javelin)
- Corne du Plessis (4x100 relay)
- Hendrick Ramaala (Marathon)
- Ruben Ramolefi (3000m Steeplechase)
- Sibusisu Shishi (4x100 relay)
- Pieter Smith (4x100 relay)
- Ter de Villiers (400 Hurdles, 4x400 relay)
- LJ van Zyl (400 Hurdles, 4x400 relay)
Women
- Elizna Naude (Discus)
- Rene Kalmer (1500m)
- Justine Robbeson (Javelin)
- Isabel le Roux (200m)
- Tsholofelo Thipe (400m Hurdles)
Notable races
- Comrades Marathon
See also
External links
References
- ↑ As of 2008-08-30.