South Africa's Ryan Mphahlele, in green, in action during the World Athletics Championships in Hungary last year South Africa's Ryan Mphahlele, in green, in action during the World Athletics Championships in Hungary last year. Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP
Ryan Mphahlele and Tshepo Tshite will be the first South Africans in action as the athletics programme for the 2024 Paris Olympics gets underway on Friday.
Mpahlele will compete in the first heat of 15 runners, with Tshite running afterwards.
Later in the day, South Africa’s new golden girl, Prudence Sekgodiso, will take part in the 800m heats, hoping to emulate the iconic Caster Semenya.
Sekgodiso is one of a number of South African medal hopefuls in athletics. The 22-year-old highlighted her ambition for this year’s Olympics after clocking a personal best of 1:57.26 at the Diamond League meet in Marrakesh earlier this year.
“For the Paris Olympics, I will try to reach the final. I want to be in the big eight,” she said.
Attention will also be on elite South African sprinters Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi, and legend Wayde van Niekerk as they look to leave their mark and challenge the world’s top runners.
Early last month, IOL Sport reported that Van Niekerk had withdrawn from his favoured 400m, and would instead be focusing on the 200m, replacing Luxolo Adam in the side.
Adams threatened legal action after his exclusion, and sports minister Gayton McKenzie wrote to Sascoc and Athletics SA demanding an expanation.
In the men’s 4x400m relay, Lythe Pillay, Zakithi Nene, Antonie Nortje along with Van Niekerk are thought to have a chance of walking away from the games with a medal.
Multiple Comrades and Two Oceans winner Gerda Steyn, plus Irvette van Zyl and Cian Oldknow will be the country’s medal hopes in the women’s marathon.
IOL Sport