Elite athletes get chance to shine in Rio

AS the first week of a pulsating Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro came to an end, KwaZulu-Natal’s Elite Athlete Development Programme has seen a number of its own athletes shine in their respective disciplines as the games’ focus shifts from the swimming pool to the athletics track with the track and field programme getting under way this weekend.

EADP swimmers Myles Brown and Calvyn Justus did themselves proud during the opening week of competition however, due to the highly competitive nature of the swimming programme, were unable to qualify for their individual finals.

Brown bettered his own South African record in the 400 metre freestyle heat but was unable to produce one of the eight fastest times which would have qualified him for the final of the event.

Justus and Brown teamed up for the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay and despite strong swims from the pair, their quartet were unable to progress into the final as they finished eleventh fastest.

South Africa will have two representatives in the men’s triathlon taking place on Thursday with Commonwealth Games star Richard Murray being joined by young, up and coming shining light Henri Schoeman.

Schoeman has been making good strides up the triathlon world rankings and the constant improvement has led to many athletes taking notice of him in the build up to Rio. This confidence and the young 24 year-old’s form could see him ruffle a few feathers at the showpiece.

Rounding out the EADP athlete’s action is 20 year-old Alan Hatherly who joins James Reid as part of the South African Cross Country Mountain Biking onslaught at Rio on 21 August.

The selection process for mountain biking was an intense one with Hatherly, Reid and 2012 Olympic Phillip Buys fighting it out for the two Team South Africa spots. Hatherly’s consistent form and impressive results throughout the UCI MTB World Cup Series in the Under-23 age category ultimately gave him the leg up over Buys.