The official countdown for the 2024 Paris Olympics in France has finally begun, as athletes from all walks of life around the world will gather in one city to deliver a spectacle on the tracking fields, swimming pool, gymnastics, wrestling arenas, rugby, and football pitch on
Friday.
It goes without saying that Team South Africa face a mammoth task ahead of them in their pursuit of making history and clinching podium finishes in their respective sporting codes.
The likes of 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, in-form 100m sprinter Akani Simbine, 200m breaststroke defending champion Tatjana Smith, 200m butterfly Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos, and marathon specialist Gerda Steyn are all expected to raise the SA flag higher than ever in Paris.
There have also been some exciting emerging talents in track and field and gymnastics. Caitlin Rooskrantz (artistic), Benjamin Richardson (200m), Lythe Pillay (400m), and Prudence Sekgodiso (800m), are all tipped to shake things up at the biggest stage of athletics.
However, standing in the way of the South Africans is the star-studded Team USA, which has talent from almost every category. There is also Australia to look out for in the swimming pool and Jamaicans on the track – who will want to retain their 100m title post-Usain Bolt era.
Sunday World looks at some of the competitors to watch out for that will possibly be standing in the way of SA’s hopefuls:
Noah Lyles (USA)
Since the retirement of Usain Bolt in 2017, there has not been a single man who has been able to maintain their dominance in the 100m. Also, there is no Jamaican man who has won a World or Olympic 100m medal post-Bolt.
But American Noah Lyles has been singled out as the man who could be the “Bolt successor” and the one to beat in the 100m dash.
With the Paris Olympics likely to be Simbine’s last shot at getting a podium finish and clinching gold, he’d have to beat the flamboyant Lyle alongside countryman and Tokyo silver medallist Fred Kerley.
Jaimacan duo Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson will also undoubtedly be in the conversation.
Prudence Sekgodiso (South Africa)
With reigning middle-distance champion Athing Mu set to miss the Summer Olympic Games, the 800m crown is up for grabs, and Sekgodiso is without a shadow of a doubt one of the frontrunners to walk away with gold.
Sekgodiso recently produced a miracle at the Diamond League, where the 22-year-old clocked a world-leading time of 1 min, 57.26 sec in her first international women’s 800m race of the 2024 season.
For Sekgodiso’s fairytale to continue, she will be going toe-to-toe with Kenya’s Mary Moraa, who will be up on her heels for the ultimate prize and crown.
Tomoru Honda (Japan)
Luckily, South Africa consists of gifted swimmers. With Chad Le Clos having the likes of 20-year-old Pieter Coetze and Matthew Sates by his side, a podium finish for Team SA is almost guaranteed to come from the swimming pool.
There is also Tatjana Smith on the women’s side who is the reigning 200m breaststroke champion.
But there will also be big stars gracing the water such as Japanese international and 200m world record holder Tomoru Honda.
Simone Biles (USA)
The 22-year-old SA artistic gymnast Caitlin Rooskrantz already bears the hope and responsibility of delivering an Olympic medal in gymnastics.
Rooskrantz will, though, be facing stiff competition from the likes of US star gymnast -Simone Biles, and Gabby Douglas, and Chinese sensations young talents Qiu Qiyuan and Zhou Yaqin.
Meanwhile, Sascoc president, Barry Hendricks, has given all South African athletes something to compete for more than the badge, as those who win gold medals at the Paris Olympics will receive a whopping R400 000 in bonuses.
The silver medallists are set to get R200 000, while the bronze medallists are guaranteed to take home R100 000.
