South Africa competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's eighteenth participation overall and sixth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics in the post-apartheid era. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) sent a total of 125 athletes to the Games, 67 men and 58 women, to compete in 17 sports. Field hockey and women's football were the only team-based sports in which South Africa were representation at these Olympic Games. There was only a single competitor in archery, BMX cycling, judo, shooting and weightlifting.
Notable South African athletes included track stars Oscar Pistorius and Caster Semenya. Pistorius, a four-time Paralympic champion, set South Africa's historical record as the first double-leg amputee to compete at the Olympics. Semenya, a middle-distance runner and a world champion who had been subjected to gender testing in 2009, became the nation's flag bearer at the opening ceremony. The South African team also featured past Olympic medalists, including swimmer Roland Mark Schoeman, who won a full set of medals in Athens, and long jumper Godfrey Khotso Mokoena, who took silver in Beijing.
After suffering a major setback in Beijing, South Africa recaptured its previous successes in London with a total of six Olympic medals (four gold, one silver, and one bronze). Among the nation's medalists were swimmers Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos, who each won gold in their events, with Le Clos also winning a silver. Van der Burgh broke both an Olympic record and a world record in men's breaststroke swimming. Meanwhile, le Clos surpassed the defending champion Michael Phelps to claim the title in one of the men's butterfly events. For the first time in its history, South Africa won Olympic medals in rowing and in sprint canoeing.
Medalists
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Medal Name Sport Event Date Swimming Men's 100 m breaststroke Swimming Men's 200 m butterfly James ThompsonMatthew BrittainJohn SmithSizwe Ndlovu Rowing Men's lightweight coxless four Caster Semenya Athletics Women's 800 m Chad le Clos Swimming Men's 100 m butterfly Bridgitte Hartley Canoeing Women's K-1 500 m
|width=22% align=left valign=top | Medals by sportSport TotalSwimming2103Rowing1001Canoeing0011Athletics1001Total4116
Archery
AthleteEventRanking roundRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / ScoreSeedOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankKaren HultzerWomen's individual63146 (19)L 2–6Did not advance
Athletics
South African athletes have entered the following events:
Key Note – Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only Q = Qualified for the next round q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target NR = National record N/A = Round not applicable for the event Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men Ofentse Mogawane was injured in a crash during the first heat of the 4 × 400 m relay. On appeal, South Africa was entered into the final with Louis van Zyl replacing Mogawane. Oscar Pistorius made Olympic history, becoming the first double leg amputee ever to participate in the Olympic Games.
Track & road events AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankLusapho AprilMarathoncolspan=4 2:19:0043Lehann Fourie110 m hurdles13.492 Q13.283 q13.537Cornel Fredericks400 m hurdles52.298Did not advanceAnaso Jobodwana200 m20.462 Q20.272 Q20.698Stephen MokokaMarathoncolspan=4 2:19:5249Marc Mundell50 km walkcolspan=4 3:55:32 AF32Coolboy NgamoleMarathoncolspan=4 André Olivier800 m1:46.423 Q1:45.445Did not advanceOscar Pistorius400 m45.442 Q46.548Did not advanceLouis van Zyl400 m hurdles50.316Did not advanceWillem de BeerShaun de JagerOfentse MogawaneOscar PistoriusLouis van Zyl4 × 400 m relay*colspan=2 3:03.46 SB7 * Allowed into final on appeal
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionGodfrey Khotso MokoenaLong jump8.027 q7.938
Combined events – Decathlon AthleteEvent 100 m 400 m 1500 mFinalRankWillem CoertzenResult11.097.1713.792.0548.5614.1543.584.5064.794:26.5281739Points841854715850882955738760810768
Women Track & road events AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankRene KalmerMarathoncolspan=4 2:30:5135Tanith Maxwellcolspan=4 2:40:2781Caster Semenya800 m2:00.712 Q1:57.67 SB1 Q1:57.23Irvette van BlerkMarathoncolspan=4
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionSunette ViljoenJavelin throw65.923 Q64.534
Badminton
AthleteEventGroup StageEliminationQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankDorian JamesWillem ViljoenMen's doubles L 6–21, 12–21 L 8–21, 13–21 L 13–21, 15–214Did not advanceMichelle EdwardsAnnari ViljoenWomen's doubles L 9–21, 7–21 L 8–21, 7–21 L 18–21, 10–212 Q L 9–21, 7–21Did not advance
Boxing
South Africa has entered boxers for the following events
Men AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankAyabonga SonjicaBantamweight L 6–15Did not advanceSiphiwe LusiziWelterweightW 17–13 L 13–18Did not advance
Canoeing
Sprint South Africa has entered canoeists for the following events
AthleteEventHeatsSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankBridgitte HartleyWomen's K-1 500 m1:53.0512 Q1:51.2861 FA1:52.923Tiffany KrugerWomen's K-1 200 m46.1227Did not advance Qualification Legend: FA = Qualify to final (medal); FB = Qualify to final B (non-medal)
Cycling
South Africa has entered nine cyclists.
Road AthleteEventTimeRankDaryl ImpeyMen's road race5:46:3740Robyn de GrootWomen's road raceAshleigh MoolmanWomen's road race3:35:5616Women's time trial42:23.5724Joanna van de WinkelWomen's road race3:35:5628
Track Sprint AthleteEventQualificationRound 1Repechage 1Round 2Repechage 2QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTimeSpeed (km/h)RankOppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)RankBernard EsterhuizenMen's sprint10.35069.56515LW 10.76266.902LLDid not advance9th place finalL11
Mountain biking AthleteEventTimeRankPhillip BuysMen's cross-country1:40:1135Burry Stander1:29:375Candice NeethlingWomen's cross-country1:45:0328
BMX AthleteEventSeedingQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankPointsRankPointsRankResultRankSifiso NhlapoMen's BMX40.78830278Did not advance
Equestrian
Eventing AthleteHorseEventDressageCross-countryJumpingTotalQualifierFinalPenaltiesRankPenaltiesTotalRankPenaltiesTotalRankPenaltiesTotalRankPenaltiesRankAlexander PeternellAsihIndividual70.407246.00116.40567.00123.40=27Did not advance123.4049
Field hockey
South Africa has qualified for both the men's and the women's event.
Men's team event – 1 team of 16 players Women's team event – 1 team of 16 players
Men's tournament
Roster
Group play
11th/12th place
Women's tournament
Roster
Group play
9th/10th place
Football
South Africa is qualified for the women's event.
Women's team event – 1 team of 18 players
Women's tournament
Team roster
Group play
Judo
AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechageFinal / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankGideon van ZylMen's −73 kgL 0101–0100Did not advance
Rowing
South Africa has entered the following events. Men AthleteEventHeatsRepechageSemifinalsFinalsTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankMatthew BrittainSizwe NdlovuJohn SmithJames ThompsonLightweight four5:54.622 SA/Bcolspan=2 6:04.212 FA6:02.84
Women AthleteEventHeatsRepechageFinalsTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankLee-Ann PersseNaydene SmithPair7:14.314 R7:18.965 FB7:56.407 Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; QF=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage
Sailing
South Africa has entered one boat for the following event.
Men AthleteEventRaceNet pointsFinal rank12345678910M*Asenathi JimRoger Hudson47018272720262613152524EL19426 M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race;
Shooting
South Africa has entered one competitor in shooting;
Men AthleteEventQualificationFinalPointsRankPointsRankAlistair DavisDouble trap13215Did not advance
Swimming
Twenty South African swimmers have entered the following events:
Men AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankCharl Crous100 m backstroke55.3733Did not advanceHeerden Herman400 m freestyle3:57.2825colspan=2 Did not advance1500 m freestyle15:25.7121colspan=2 Did not advanceChad le Clos100 m butterfly51.541 Q51.422 Q51.44200 m butterfly1:55.234 Q1:54.34 AF3 Q1:52.96 AF200 m individual medley1:59.4511 Q1:58.49=7 QWithdrew400 m individual medley4:12.242 Qcolspan=2 4:12.425Gideon Louw50 m freestyle22.1211 Q21.929Did not advance100 m freestyle48.292 Q48.44=9Did not advanceGraeme Moore100 m freestyle49.2921Did not advanceDarren Murray200 m backstroke2:00.0125Did not advanceTroyden Prinsloo10 km open watercolspan=4 1:50:52.912Riaan Schoeman400 m individual medley4:17.2219colspan=2 Did not advanceRoland Mark Schoeman50 m freestyle21.925 Q21.88=7 Q21.806Darian Townsend200 m individual medley2:00.6721Did not advanceCameron van der Burgh100 m breaststroke59.796 Q58.83 1 Q58.46 Gideon LouwGraeme MooreRoland Mark SchoemanDarian Townsend4 × 100 m freestyle relay3:13.937 Qcolspan=2 3:13.455Jean BassonChad le ClosSebastien RousseauDarian Townsend4 × 200 m freestyle relay7:11.517 Qcolspan=2 7:09.657Charl CrousChad le ClosGideon LouwLeith ShanklandDarian TownsendCameron van der Burgh4 × 100 m medley relay3:35.2313colspan=2 Did not advance
Women AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTrudi Maree50 m freestyle25.7836Did not advanceKathryn Meaklim200 m individual medley2:15.2524Did not advance400 m individual medley4:43.4616colspan=2 Did not advanceKarin Prinsloo200 m freestyle1:59.2420Did not advance200 m backstroke2:10.3413 Q2:11.4216Did not advanceJessica Roux10 km open watercolspan=4 Wendy Trott400 m freestyle4:11.6322colspan=2 Did not advance800 m freestyle8:28.9812colspan=2 Did not advanceSuzaan van Biljon100 m breaststroke1:07.5412 Q1:07.6811Did not advance200 m breaststroke2:25.949 Q2:23.21 AF5 Q2:23.727
Triathlon
South Africa has entered one man and two women.
AthleteEventSwim (1.5 km)Trans 1Bike (40 km)Trans 2Run (10 km)Total TimeRankRichard MurrayMen's18:110:3559:380:2630:251:49:1517Kate RobertsWomen's19:230:401:07:210:3434:482:02:4622Gillian Sanders19:290:381:05:310:3236:182:02:2819
Volleyball
Beach
AthleteEventPreliminary roundStandingRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankFreedom ChiyaGrant GoldschmidtMen'sPool DL 0 – 2 (10–21, 11–21)L 0 – 2 (13–21, 10–21)L 0 – 2 (19–21, 13–21)4Did not advance19
Weightlifting
South Africa has entered one weightlifter.
AthleteEventSnatchClean & JerkTotalRankResultRankResultRankJean GreeffMen's −94 kg137201762031320
See also South Africa at the 2012 Summer Paralympics South Africa at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics
References