With three weeks to the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on Friday, July 5th, the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee provided an updated list of athletes and management that have been selected to represent Team South Africa on Friday, 5 July, 2024.
African Artistic Gymnastics champion, Caitlin Rooskrantz, Judo’s Michaela Geronay Whitebooi, Single Skull Rowing’s Paige Badenhorst and Street Skateboarder Boipelo Awuah and been added, while the names of Rugby Seven’s team contenders Zandile Masuku and Eloise Web are removed after having been omitted by SA Rugby in their final selection following the Paris 2024 preparation camp in Potchefstroom.
Following the announcement, a total of 62 women athletes are included in the 140-strong contingent selected for Team SA in Paris as compared with the Tokyo 2020 Games’ Team SA’s 179 athletes, where Tatjana Smith and Bianca Buitendag brought home all three of South Africa’s medals.
This time round there are fewer team sports represented, with football and water polo not going to Paris, having been part of the Tokyo team.
“Being chosen to represent one’s country is always an honour,” said SASCOC President Barry Hendricks. “However, that honour seems to be amplified when it comes to being selected for an Olympic Games. For many athletes going to Paris shortly to compete in these Games, it will be the highlight of their careers.
“What has to be remembered is that the Olympics are the ultimate multi-code Games in sport. Team SA’s athletes will compete proudly with the other nations, and each and every one of them is an ambassador for our country. Of course medals are important, and we have financial incentives in place, but this really is about showing one’s talents and being part of the Olympic family,” Hendricks added.
The CEO of SASCOC, Nozipho Jafta, said: “The team is a blend of both experienced and new talent with many team members having worn the green and gold of Team South Africa at previous Olympic Games,”
“What makes us proud as an organisation is seeing 35 of the athletes currently on the Bidvest Operational Excellence (OPEX) Program qualifying to be included in the team going to Paris.
“We are pleased to see the investment in the support for the athletes paying off, and I am confident that we are sending a squad that will do the country proud,” she said.
The latest squad has Tatjana Smith counting among Team SA’s four Olympic champions in its ranks.
“That’s the experience in the squad that I’m talking about and of course we […] have […] our queen of the road, Gerda Steyn, adding to that experience. I am excited by the balance of the squad and by its potential in Paris,” Jafta added.
SASCOC confirmed financial incentives for athletes and teams that will earn medals in Paris, the payment structures differing for relays and team sports (Hockey and Rugby), where athletes can win R100k for a gold medal, for 2-person boats, where an athlete can win R200k for a gold medal, in addition to incentives announced last month where gold-medal winning athletes will be awarded R400,000.
Women Athletes included in the Third Updated Team SA Squad for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Acquatics
Aimee Canny (200m Freestyle)
Kaylene Corbett (200m Breaststroke)
Erin Gallagher (100m Butterfly)
Rebecca Meder (200m IM)
Tatjana Smith (100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke)
Julia Vincent (Diving, 3m Springboard)
Athletics
Marione Fourie (100mH)
Zeney Geldenhuys (400mH)
Rogail Joseph (400mH)
Cian Oldknow (Marathon)
Prudence Sekgodiso (800m)
Gerda Steyn (Marathon)
Irvette van Zyl (Marathon)
Badminton
Johanita Scholtz
Canoeing
Tiffany Koch (Kayak Sprint)
Esti Olivier (Kayak Sprint)
Cycling
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Road)
Tiffany Keep (Road)
Candice Lill (MTB)
Miyanda Maseti (BMX)
Golf
Ashleigh Buhai
Paula Reto
Gymnastics
Caitlin Rooskrantz (Artistic)
Hockey
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
Travelling Reserve: Aphiwe Dimba
Travelling Reserve: Kayla Swarts
Judo
Michaela Geronay Whitebooi
Rowing
Paige Badenhorst (Single Skull)
Rugby Sevens
Liske Lategan
Ayanda Malinga
Kemisetso Baloyi
Zintle Mpupha
Sizophila Solontsi
Mathrin Simmers
Nadine Roos
Elizabeth Janse van Rensburg
Veroeshka Grain
Marlize de Bruin
Maria Tshiremba
Byrhandre Dolf
Travelling Reserve: Shona-Leah Weston
Travelling Reserve: Shiniqwa Lamprecht
Skateboarding
Boipelo Awuah (Street)
Sport Climbing
Aniya Holder (Speed Climbing)
Lauren Mukheibir (Lead & Boulder)
Surfing
Sarah Ann Baum
Triathlon
Vicky van der Merwe
Original Copy: SASCOC, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: SASCOC has updated Team SA’s selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the addition of Gymnast Caitlin Rooskrantz, Judoka Michaela Geronay Whitebooi (pictured), Rowing’s Paige Badenhorst and Skateboarder Boipelo Awuah on Friday, 5 July, 2024. Photo: File