South African middle distance star Prudence Sekgodiso got her first Olympic campaign off to a promising start by cruising through the first round of the 800m as track action kicked off in Paris on Friday.
The 22-year-old finished second in her first-round heat in a time of 1 minute 59.84 to secure automatic qualification into the semifinals on Sunday. Those not claiming top-three spots in their heats go through to the newly introduced repechage round where they get another shot at making the semifinals. But that means having an extra race in their legs by the time they reach the semis – something that Sekgodiso safely avoided.
Speaking after the race, the seven-time national champion said she may have got her pacing slightly wrong.
“The race was OK. The first 400 I was relaxed and on the right mark. The last 300 that’s where I started pushing hard, but I feel like I pushed so much whereby at the last 100 I was like, oh my word, now I’m tired.”
Sekgodiso said she saw herself in second spot on the big screen in the stadium and thought: “Let me just be myself and run for my country, my coach and whoever is watching and that’s what I did. And I feel good, I’m just waiting for the next one.”
Sekgodiso has enjoyed a phenomenal season so far, winning two Diamond League meets. The time of 1:57.26 she ran in Morocco in May is the joint seventh fastest in the world this year and she is being hailed as the new kid on the block in middle-distance circles.
Meanwhile, over at La Defense Arena pool, Rebecca Meder competed in her first-ever Olympic semifinal. The 22-year-old, currently based in New Zealand, swam 2:11.96 in her morning heat to claim the last available place in the 200m individual medley semifinals.
She went quicker in the evening, finishing fifth in her semifinal in a new national record of 2:10.67. While disappointed not to make it through to Saturday’s final after finishing 11th overall, she was thrilled with a personal best time and her Olympic experience in general at her second Games.
“I’m sad that I can’t race in the final tomorrow but 11th in the world by splits… you can either beat yourself up or you can just go wow, I’m so incredibly proud of myself.
“The size of the stadium is the biggest stadium I’ve ever raced in my entire life. Tokyo was big but there was nobody there and this time around I got to swim twice, I got to stand in front of a crowd of people that are cheering for me because I’m an athlete at the Olympic Games.
“I set myself a goal in grade 4 at 10 years old that I wanted to be an Olympian and at the age of 22 now I am a double Olympian and semifinalist, 11th in the world, and I know my time is still coming.
“It just keeps getting better and better and I keep getting faster and I keep getting more competitive on this stage … I’m just grateful, I’m humbled,” she added.
Team South Africa’s Women’s Contingent and Paris 2024 Broadcast Updates
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Saturday, 27 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Sunday, 28 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Monday, 29 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Tuesday, 30 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Wednesday, 31 July, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Thursday, 1 August, 2024
Paris 2024 Olympic Games Results on Friday, 2 August, 2024
Rowing
Paige Badenhorst finished second to Serbia’s Jovana Arsic in 7:27.76 to claim 14th spot overall
Swimming
200m Individual Medley Heats – Rebecca Meder swam 2:11.96 in her morning heat to claim the final place in the evening 200m individual medley semifinals
Athletics
800m Round One – Prudence Sekgodiso finished second in her heat of the women’s 800m during the evening session to secure automatic qualification to Sunday’s semi-final
Swimming
200m Individual Medley Semi-Final – Rebecca Meder finishing fifth in her semifinal and 11th overall in a new national record of 2:10.67, does not qualify for Saturday’s final
Schedule of Events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Saturday, 3 August, 2024
Hockey
13:15: United States vs South Africa
Swimming
21:08: 200m IM final – Rebecca Meder (TBC)
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Prudence Sekgodiso finished second in her heat of the women’s 800m during the evening session to secure automatic qualification to Sunday’s semi-final as the Olympic Games’ track and field action commenced at the Stade de France in Paris, France on Friday, 2 August, 2024. Photo: Roger Sedres / TeamSA
Photo 2 Caption: Rebecca Meder set a new SA record in her 200m IM heat in the morning session at the La Defense Arena in Paris on Friday. Photo: Roger Sedres / TeamSA
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