Prudence Sekgodiso will be hoping to emulate the great Caster Semenya when she takes part in the 800m heats, as the athletics program at the Paris Olympics clicks into gear.
Sekgodiso comes into the Olympics after clocking a personal best of 1:57.26 at the Diamond League meet in Marrakesh earlier this year, making her a real contender for a medal.
Ryan Mphahlele and Tshepo Tshite will be the first South Africans in action on the track on Friday when they compete in the the men’s 1500m heats.
In the golf competition, Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout will hope to make up some ground on leader Hideki Matsuyama in the second round at Le Golf National.
Van Rooyen was the best of the South African golfers as he finished on 4-under par for a tied sixth place, four behind shots the leader.
Christiaan Bezuidenhoud finished the round a little further back on 1-under, tied in 29th.
Meanwhile, in the pool, veteran Chad le Clos will be in action in the 100m butterfly heats, 12 years on from his famous gold-medal swim at the London Olympics when he beat Michael Phelps to the gold.
ATHLETICS
Men’s 1500m, round 1, heats (11.10am): Ryan Mphahlele
Men’s 1500m, round 1, heats (11.21am): Tshepo Tshite
Women’s 800m, round 1, heats (7.54pm): Prudence Sekgodiso
Men’s shot put, qualification, Group B (8.10pm): Kyle Blignaut
Men’s 10 000m, final (9.20pm): Adriaan Wildschutt
ROWING
Men’s Pair B, final (10.42am): John Smith and Christopher Baxter
GOLF
Men’s Individual, second round
9.22am: Erik van Rooyen
11.33am: Christiaan Bezuidenhout
HOCKEY
Men’s Pool A (7.45pm): South Africva vs France
SWIMMING
Men’s 100m butterfly, heats (11.03am): Matthew Sates, Clad le Clos
Women’s 200m IM, heats (11.30am): Rebecca Meder
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