South Africa’s hunt for glory at Olympics continues, despite setbacks to medal favourites

Italy’s Marcell Jacobs has become the fastest man in the world. This after winning the Blue Ribbon event at the Tokyo Olympics.

Jacobs won ahead of Fred Kerley of America and Canada’s Andre de Grasse, who beat South Africa’s Akani Simbine to the bronze medal.

The wind was minimal. +0.1 and Simbine ran 9.93. He had run 9.90 with a stronger tailwind in the semi-finals. Fine effort but the No2 lane curse strikes again

— Team South Africa (@TeamSA2020) August 1, 2021

All is not lost, though for Team SA as Wayde Van Niekerk is still in line to defend his Olympic 400m title after he qualified for the semi-finals in his discipline.

Team South Africa went into Sunday with the hopes of adding more silverware to the three they’ve so far received from the pool over the past week.

At the Tatsumi Water Polo Centre, the South African Women’s team ended their competition with another drubbing, this time at the hands of Australia who beat them 14-1.

Leo Davis did not fare any better in the Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavyweight Sailing Final.

The 29-year-old South African finishing dead last in his competition.

The Greens were also not too kind to Team SA.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout closed with a 67 to end the men’s competition on 11-under 273, 6 shots behind clubhouse leader, former South African Rory Sabbatini who now plays for Slovakia.

The other South African out on the greens was Garrick Higgo who shot his 3rd level par round in four days to finish on one-under 283.

Onto track and field, South Africa’s Zakithi Nene and World Record holder Wayde Van Niekerk opened their account at the games in the men’s 400m heats.

Both Nene and Van Niekerk were way off the pace in their respective runs, the 23-year-old Nene coming home fifth in heat two in a time of 45.74 seconds.

Van Niekerk was a whole two seconds off his gold medal-winning time at the Rio Olympics five years ago, but it was good enough to see him secure a semi-final berth on Monday evening.

Sokwakhana Zazini was not as lucky in the men’s 400m hurdles semi-finals.

He finished sixth in a time of 48.99 and missed out on the finals.

Men’s 400m Hurdles, semi-final 1/3: Sokwakhana Zazini finished 7th in 48.99 and he failed to qualify for the final. Zazini’s time though was a season’s best for him ?#TeamSA #Tokyo2020

— Team South Africa (@TeamSA2020) August 1, 2021

The Olympics are currently under way until 8 August.