Looking forward: SA stars on the rise ahead of Paris Olympics

There were, admittedly, more lows than highs for many of South Africa’s Olympic athletes this season, but a few young stars stood out with breakthrough 2021 campaigns.

After the SA team returned from this year’s Tokyo Games with just three medals in the bag, they will be looking for a much bigger haul at the Paris showpiece in 2024.

And while the likes of Tatjana Schoenmaker, Akani Simbine, Henri Schoeman and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio should still be around in a couple of years, they could be joined in Paris by a handful of new medal contenders.

Though there is still some time for other athletes to join the podium hunt, a few have already proved they have the potential to run with the big dogs.

Shaun Maswanganyi (athletics)

After setting a national junior 100m record of 10.06 seconds last season, the 20-year-old sprinter went even quicker this year, clocking 10.04.

Flaunting his potential when he secured 100m silver and 200m bronze at the prestigious NCAA Championships in the US, he went on to reach the 100m and 200m semifinals at the Tokyo Games.

Though he has some work to do to catch SA’s fastest man, Akani Simbine, Maswanganyi has proved he has a very bright future.

Kaylene Corbett (swimming)

While her compatriot, double medallist Tatjana Schoenmaker, entered the Tokyo Games among the favourites, breaststroke specialist Kaylene Corbett delivered one of the surprise performances of the showpiece in her wake.

Corbett, 22, reached the 200m final at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2019 World Championships, displaying her potential.

And she took another major career leap by finishing fifth in the Olympic final, shattering her personal best (2:22.06) and showcasing her immense talent.

Kyle Blignaut (athletics)

The former world junior shot put champion has made a seamless transition into the senior rankings, establishing his place as one of the country’s best field event prospects.

The 22-year-old gentle giant sent the shot sailing beyond 20 metres at 17 of the 18 events he contested this year, setting a personal best of 21.21m.

Having finished sixth in the final at the Tokyo Games, he should be in contention for a medal at next year’s World Athletics Championships in Eugene.

Lloyd Harris (tennis)

Ok, so Harris isn’t very young, but the 24-year-old player has had to grind it out to reach the top on a brutal international circuit.

After progressing beyond the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time at this year’s Australian Open, he went on to reach the final at the Dubai Championships – an ATP 500 Series event – before delivering a spectacular run of performances to reach the quarter-finals at the US Open.

With Kevin Anderson struggling with injuries in the latter stages of his elite career, Harris looks ready to carry the nation’s hopes at the highest level, and though he missed the Tokyo Olympics, he says he’s gunning for a spot in the SA team at the Paris Games.