On July 4, Olympic governing body SASCOC announced the addition of a further 13 athletes to the Team South Africa squad that will carry the nation’s hopes at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The additional names bring the final number of competitors for London to 125. Extra names were announced in just two codes, those of aquatics and athletics.
Joining Team SA in London will be open water swimmers Troyden Prinsloo and Jessica Roux who swam at the qualifying event in Portugal recently as well as Darren Murray (200-metre backstroke) and Trudi Maree (50m freestyle).
In track and field Khotso Mokoena (long jump), Anaso Jobodwana (200m) and Andre Olivier (800m) are also new additions to the squad. Olivier was the final athlete to qualify, at the Africa Senior Championships in Benin at the weekend.There was also space for decathlete Willem Coertzen who set an SA record at the SA championships in Port Elizabeth and Lehann Fourie in the 110m hurdles. Giving South Africa another shot at a possible medal was the inclusion of a 4x400m relay squad. Among those names were Paralympic ace Oscar Pistorius who ran an A standard qualifier in the 400m and will now compete at his first Olympic Games.Pistorius will be joined by Willem de Beer, Ofentse Mogawane and Shaun de Jager. The South African 4x400m relay team won silver at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea last year. The initial squad of 112 athletes was announced at Olympic House in Johannesburg on 6 June 2012 and the latest names come after the completion of the final qualifying deadlines in the various sporting codes. SASCOC President Gideon Sam congratulated the additional members of the squad: “Finally, we have a complete squad! It’s taken four long years of work but now we can concentrate on doing our best at the Games. The preparation has been done and now it’s up to our athletes to take over in London and show us what they’re made of. “As I have said many times before, we are not taking passengers to London. Everyone has met selection criteria and are genuine Olympic Games material, either now or for 2016. I wish them all the best.” Tubby Reddy, SASCOC CEO also expressed his happiness at the final team: “We’re confident that SASCOC together with our National Federations have put together the best team possible with the resources at our disposal. The team is an excellent blend of youth and experience with the intention of delivering medal returns in London as well as grooming our future stars for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.” Managing and coaching additions to the squad saw Olympic silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng named as manager for the athletics squad and he’ll be assisted by three coaches in Terseus Liebenberg, Hennie Kotze and Gerrie Coetzee. In the swimming code, Cedric Finch also comes aboard as do Wayne Riddin and technical analyst Ryan Holdien. Andin a change to the General Team Management complement, the position of Chef de Mission to London will now be filled by Ms Patience Shikwambana. She replaces Malesela Maleka. Shikwambana also fulfilled this duty successfully at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.
“The team is an excellent blend of youth and experience with the intention of delivering medal returns in London as well as grooming our future stars for the 2016 Games”
The final line-up of Team South Africa that will participate in the 2012 London Olympic Games:AQUATICS
Jean Basson, Charl Crous, Heerden Herman, Chad le Clos, Gideon Louw, Kathryn Meaklim, Graeme Moore, Darren Murray, Trudi Maree, Karin Prinsloo, Troy Prinsloo, Sebastien Rousseau, Jessica Roux, Riaan Schoeman, Roland Schoeman, Leith Shankland, Darian Townsend, Wendy Trott, Suzaan van Biljon, Cameron van der Burgh.
Manager: Shawn Adriaanse, Coaches: Graham Hill, Igor Omeltchenko, Cedric Finch, Wayne Riddin. Technical analyst: Ryan HodierneARCHERY
Karen Hultzer
Coach/manager: Johan SteynATHLETICSMarathon (men): Lusapho April, Stephen Mokoka, Coolboy Ngamole. Marathon (women): Rene Kalmer, Tanith Maxwell, Irvette van Blerk. Track and field: Willem Coertzen, Willie de Beer, Shaun de Jager, Cornel Fredericks, Lehann Fourie, Anaso Jobodwana, Ofentse Mogawane, Khotso Mokoena, Andre Olivier, Oscar Pistorius, Caster Semenya, Louis Jacobus van Zyl, Sunette Viljoen. 50km race walk: Marc Mundell
Manager: Hezekiel Sepeng. Coaches: Terseus Liebenberg, Hennie Kotze, Gerrie CoetzeeBADMINTON
Michelle Edwards, Dorian James, Annari Viljoen, Willem Viljoen
Coach/manager: Stewart CarsonBOXINGSiphiwe Lusizi, Ayabonga Sonjica
Coach/manager: Andile Mofu, Coach: Nkosinathi HlatshwayoCANOEINGBridgitte Hartley, Tiffany Kruger
Manager: Merrill KingCYCLINGRoad: Darryl Impey, Robyn de Groot, Ashleigh Moolman, Joanna van de Winkel. Mountain bike: Phillip Buys, Candice Neethling, Burry Stander
BMX: Sifiso Nhlapo
Track: Bernard Esterhuizen
Coach/manager: Barry Austin, coach: Jean-Pierre van Zyl, Hervé Krebs, Jeroen Swart Mechanic: Dylan van der MerweEQUESTRIAN
Paul Hart
Coach/manager: Alison Abbey, Groom: Tamsyn Hutchins, Vet: David EllisFOOTBALL (women)Roxanne Barker, Zamandosi Cele, Amanda Dlamini, Judith Hlumbane, Refiloe Jane, Kylie-Ann Louw, Noko Matlou, Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Philadelphia Mndaweni, Portia Modise, Sanah Mollo, Robyn Moodaly, Marry Ntsweng, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Amanda Sister, Leandra Smeda, Janine van Wyk, Nothando Vilakazi
Manager: Lydia Monyepao, Coach: Joseph Mkhonza, Coach: Matsobane Laka, Technical adviser: Ephraim Mashaba.HOCKEY (women)Tarryn Bright, Dirkie Chamberlain, Pietie Coetzee, Bernadette Coston, Sulette Damons, Illse Davids, Lisa-Marie Deetlefs, Lesle-Ann George, Lenise Marais, Marsha Marescia, Mariette Rix, Shelley Russell, Kathleen Taylor, Nicolene Terblanche, Jennifer Wilson, Kate Woods
Coach: Giles Bonnet, Coach: Fabian Gregory, Video analyst: Adrian CarolanHOCKEY (men)Andrew Cronje, Timothy Drummond, Ian Haley, Rhett Halkett, Marvin Harper, Julian Hykes, Lance Louw, Lloyd Madsen, Thornton McDade, Lloyd Norris-Jones, Taine Paton, Wade Paton, Erasmus Pieterse, Justin Reid-Ross, Jonathan Robinson, Austin Smith
Manager: Anton van Rooyen, Coach: Gregg Clark, Coach Kurt Cerfonteyn, Video Analyst: Moabi MalebyeJUDO
Gideon van Zyl
Coach/manager: Nikola FilipovROWINGMen’s lightweight cox less four: Matthew Brittain, Lawrence Ndlovu, John Smith, James Thompson. Women’s Pair: Lee-Ann Persse, Naydene Smith
Coach/manager: Roger Barrow, Coach: Paul JacksonSAILINGAsenathi Jim, Roger Hudson
Coach/manager: David HudsonSHOOTINGAlistair Davis
Coach/manager: Frank DavisTRIATHLON
Richard Murray, Kate Roberts, Gillian Sanders
Coach/manager: Lindsey ParryVOLLEYBALL (beach)Freedom Chiya, Grant Goldschmidt
Coach/manager: Gershon RorichWEIGHTLIFTING
Jean Greeff
Coach/manager: Aveenash PandooGENERAL TEAM MANAGEMENTChef de Mission: Patience Shikwambana
Project manager: Ezera Tshabangu
Manager (Athlete Services): Leon Fleiser. Athlete Services: Victoria Hlatshwayo. Manager (Logistics): Isaac Mdaka Logistics: Joanne MyersMEDICAL
Chief medical officer: Kevin Subban
Chief physiotherapist: Bafana Sihlali
Medical doctors: Phathokuhle Cele, Louis Holthausen
Physiotherapists: Caren Fleishman, Tamlyn Guest, Nhlanhla Maphanga, Hendrick Maree, Fikile Phasha, Tanushree Pillay, Louise-Ann Rivett, Nandhakumar Viranna
– By SASCOC
