The Blitzboks celebrating their victory at the Olympic rugby sevens qualifying tournament in Monaco last month. Picture: David van der Sandt/Gallo Images
The SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has added another 27 athletes in seven codes to the national squad for the Olympic Games in Paris starting later this month.
This lifts the size of the provisional South African squad to 140 athletes in 19 sports, with more track and field athletes still expected to be added to the team based on their world rankings.
The latest group of individuals named in the squad includes four accomplished golfers – Christiaan Bezuidenhoit, Erik van Rooyen, Paula Reto and former Women’s British Open champion Ashleigh Buhai.
Other new team members are judoka Geronay Whitebooi, single skull rower Paige Badenhorst, cyclist Vincent Leygonie (BMX), equestrian rider Alexander Peternell (eventing), and skateboarders Brandon Valjalo (street), Dallas Oberholzer (park) and Boipelo Awuah (street).
A 16-member provisional men’s rugby sevens squad has also been announced (ensuring the country will be represented in both the men’s and women’s tournaments) though the Blitzboks team will be reduced to 12 players and two reserves before departing for the Games.
The Olympic Games, which features over 10,000 athletes in 32 sports, will officially be opened on 26 July, though a few codes will get underway from 24 July. The closing ceremony will be held on 11 August.
Men: Akani Simbine (100m, 4x100m), Shaun Maswanganyi (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Benjamin Richardson (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Bayanda Walaza (4x100m), Bradley Nkoana (4x100m), Sinesipho Dambile (4x100m), Wayde van Niekerk (200m), Zakhiti Nene (400m, 4x400m), Lythe Pillay (400m, 4x400m), Gardeo Isaacs (4x400m), Antonie Nortje (4x400m), Adrian Swart (4x400m), Edmund du Plessis (800m), Tshepo Tshite (1500m), Ryan Mphahlele (1500m), Adrian Wildschutt (10000m), Stephen Mokoka (marathon), Elroy Galant (marathon), Brian Raats (high jump), Jovan van Vuuren (long jump), Cheswill Johnson (long jump), Kyle Blignaut (shot put), Francois Prinsloo (discus throw), Victor Hogan (discus throw)
Women: Miranda Coetzee (400m), Prudence Sekgodiso (800m), Marione Fourie (100m hurdles), Zeney Geldenhuys (400m hurdles), Rogail Joseph (400m hurdles), Gerda Steyn (marathon), Cian Oldknow (marathon), Irvette van Zyl (marathon), Mine de Klerk (shot put), Ashley Erasmus (shot put), Jo-Ane van Dyk (javelin throw)
Men: Wian Roux (recurve)
Women: Johanita Scholtz
Men: Andrew Birkett (kayak sprint), Hamish Lovemore (kayak sprint)
Women: Tiffany Koch (kayak sprint), Esti Olivier (kayak sprint)
Men: Ryan Gibbons (road), Jean Spies (track), Alan Hatherley (MTB), Vincent Leygonie (BMX)
Women: Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (road), Tiffany Keep (road), Candice Lill (MTB), Miyanda Maseti (BMX)
Women: Julia Vincent (3m springboard)
Men: Alexander Peternell (eventing)
Men: Harry Saner (epee)
Men: Christiaan Bezuidenhoit, Erik van Rooyen
Women: Ashleigh Buhai, Paula Reto
Women: Caitlin Rooskrantz (artistic)
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
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
Women: Geronay Whitebooi
Men: John Smith (pair), Christopher Baxter (pair)
Women: Paige Badenhorst (single scull)
Men: Christoffel Grobbelaar, Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Quewin Nortje, Tiaan Pretorius, Shaun Williams, Selvyn Davids, Tristan Leyds, Rosko Specman, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, Katlego Letebele, Ronald Brown, Mfundo Ndhlovu, David Brits
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
Men: Brandon Valjalo (street), Dallas Oberholzer (park)
Women: Boipelo Awuah (street)
Men: Joshua Bruyns (speed climbing), Mel Janse van Rensburg (lead & boulder)
Women: Aniya Holder (speed climbing), Lauren Mukheiber (lead & boulder)
Men: Matthew McGillivray, Jordy Smith
Women: Sarah Ann Baum
Men: Pieter Coetzé (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)
Men: Henri Schoeman, Jamie Riddle
Women: Vicky van der Merwe
Men: Steyn de Lange (92kg)
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