Paige Badenhorst, Erin Gallagher and Geronay Whitebooi ensured Team SA got their Olympic campaign off to a promising start in various parts of a soggy Paris on Saturday, 27 July, 2024.
Badenhorst finished third in her single sculls heat behind Australian Tara Rigney and Spaniard Virginia Diaz Rivas to secure automatic qualification through to the quarterfinals.
“I was nervous, definitely nervous,” admitted Badenhorst. “I think everyone here is nervous so I was nervous because it was my first one, but I do feel more confident in myself, just having done one now. Some of the doubts about yourself, you can cross off the list and just keep going up from there.”
Badenhorst added that her massive workload is what gives her more confidence in herself.
“I definitely rely on my base work. We do a lot of base work and mileage at high altitude and things like that so those are my advantages. I have a lot of fitness and endurance under my belt. So I definitely rely on that. I know I can work hard and I know hard for long.”
Single sculls Rower, Paige Badenhorst
Meanwhile, over at the aquatics centre at La Defense, Gallagher finished sixth in her 100m butterfly heat in a time of 57.80. That saw the 25-year-old through to the evening semifinal as the 13th fastest qualifier. Later in the evening, however, she was desperately disappointed to swim a slower time in the semifinal, finishing seventh in 57.90 and so missing out on a place in the final.
“That was really tough,” she said afterwards. “I know I’m more capable than what I just swam, and there are always going to be lessons learned. It would just be nice if I didn’t have to learn them at the Olympics.
“But it’s better than what I did in Tokyo. I did everything that I possibly could and that’s what I had tonight. It just felt like it’s over so quickly. You don’t really have much time to think. It’s a big privilege to be here, but it’s tough.”
Erin Gallagher finished seventh in 100m butterfly semi-finals, missing out on the Final
Elsewhere, judoka Whitebooi overcame Guatemala’s Jacqueline Solis 11-0 in her first match in the -48kg category. That saw the Commonwealth Games champion progressing to a round-of-16 showdown with three-time world champion Natsumi Tsunoda. The Japanese star proved too strong for Whitebooi, winning by Ippon and eventually triumphing in her following three matches to clinch the gold medal.
Over at the Porte de la Chapelle, Team SA’s only badminton representative, Johanita Scholtz, put up a brave fight in her first encounter against Korea’s Kim Ga-eun but was ultimately defeated 2-0 (21-12, 21-6).
“I feel privileged to have played a top player in the world,” said an enthusiastic Scholtz afterwards. “I think the first set, she was also – not nervous but trying to figure out the match – as I was, but she took a step up in the second set which I admire because obviously I’m trying to give my best and she gave more. Knowing that she can do more, I can do more as well so it’s very inspiring playing against players like this in the world.”
Scholtz will next be up against Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei in her second round robin match on Monday.
Thousands of kilometres away in Tahiti, Sarah Baum was in action in the first heat of Round 1 for Team South Africa, progressing with a score of 8.47 from her best two waves for promotion to Round 2 on Sunday behind the USA’s Caroline Marks, with Portugal’s Yolanda Hopkins falling out of further competition, with Baum facing a 1-to-1 elimination round against Germany’s Camilla Kemp on Sunday.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Saturday, 27 July, 2024
Badminton
Women’s singles, Group H: RESULT Johanita Scholtz lost 2-0 to Kim-Ga Eun (Kor) 21-12, 21-6
Judo
Women’s -48kg elimination, round of 32: WIN! Geronay Whitebooi, ranked No39 in the world, beat her opponent Jacqueline Solis (Argentina) 10-1 at 3:57 into the contest (Ippon).
Women’s -48kg elimination, round of 16: RESULT Geronay Whitebooi lost to Natsumi Tsunoda (Japan)
Rowing
Women’s single scull, heats: THROUGH! Paige Badenhorst finished third in her heat in 7:39.19 to qualify for the quarter-finals
Swimming
Women’s 100m butterfly, heats: THROUGH! Erin Gallagher finished sixth in her heat in 57.80 to qualify 13th fastest for the evening semi-finals. China’s Yufei Zhang was quickest in 56.50sec.
Women’s 100m butterfly, semi-finals: Erin Gallagher finished seventh in her race in 57.90, which put her at 14th overall and missing out on the final
Surfing
Women’s first round, heats: Through! Sarah Baum finished second in her heat with a total 8.47 from her best two waves, she moves through to the second round
Schedule of Events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Sunday, 28 July, 2024
Cycling
Women’s MTB cross-country (2.10pm): Candice Lill
Gymnastics
Women’s artistic, qualifying (9.30am): Caitlin Rooskrantz
Hockey
Women’s Pool B (12.45pm): Team SA vs Australia
Rugby Sevens
Women’s Pool B (4pm): Team SA vs Australia
Women’s Pool B (7pm): Team SA vs Ireland
Swimming
Women’s 100m breaststroke, heats (11.36am): Tatjana Smith
Women’s 200m freestyle, heats (12.12pm): Aimee Canny
Women’s 100m butterfly, final (8.40pm): Erin Gallagher TBC
Women’s 100m breaststroke, semi-finals (9.10pm): Tatjana Smith TBC
Women’s 200m freestyle, semi-finals (9.50pm): Aimee Canny TBC
Skateboarding
Women’s street prelims (12noon): Boipelo Awuah
Women’s street final (5pm): Boipelo Awuah TBC
Surfing
Women’s second round (7pm): Sarah Baum vs Camila Kemp (Ger)
Main Photo Caption: Erin Gallagher of South Africa qualified for the semi finals during the Women 100m Butterfly, but finished seventh, failing to progress to the event final, on day 4 of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games at Paris La Defence in Paris, France, on 27 July, 2024. Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
Photo 2 Caption: Geronay Michaela Whitebooi in her judo eliminator against Jacqueline Goa Solis of Uruguay, at the Champs de Mars in Paris. Photo: Roger Sedres/TeamSA
Photo 3 Caption: Badminton’s Johanita Scholtz kicked off Team SA’s women’s participation, losing 2-0 to South Korea’s Kim-Ga Eun. Photo: Karien Jonckheere
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