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22:08
Apartheid caused South Africa to be barred from participation in the Olympic Games between the years of 1962 and 1992. Since the ban was lifted and we took part in the '92 Barcelona Olympics, SA has won 25 total medals at the games. Many incredibly talented sports men and women have done our country proud in the Olympics, from the domination of Penny Heyns in the pool to Hestrie Cloete's methodical pre-jump rituals in the high-jump.
When you think of where SA has seen the most success Olympically speaking (if that is even a phrase), the first thought that comes to mind is probably the swimming pool. Barring some obvious great athletes like Hezekiel Sepeng, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, Khotso Mokoena, Caster Semenya and a couple others, it's fair to say that we haven't really fulfilled our potential when it comes to track and field. Out of the 7 Gold medals won by SA since 1992, 5 of them are attributed to swimming, 1 went to rowing and 1 has gone to athletics (in 1996).
I am here to let you know that we are on the tail-end of this untapped potential. On the horizon I see a new wave of South African talent that is ready to compete with the very best in the world! Here are 6 exciting athletes to keep your eye on in the coming year leading up Rio 2016.
1). Wayde Van Niekerk: 400m and 200m
2). Cornel Hendericks: 400m Hurdles
The 24 year old won gold at both the Commonwealth Games and IAAF Diamond league in 2014. He also represented the country in the 2012 Olympics at the age of 22.
3). Sunette Viljoen: Javelin
Sunette is already well established on international platforms. She performed well in the World Championships in Beijing last month, finishing with a bronze medal, and has previously finished with the Silver at the Commonwealth games in Glasgow Scotland in 2014.
4). Anaso Jobodwana: 200m
Jobodwana has been knocking on the door of some huge sprinting icons of late and didn't disappoint when he finished with the bronze just behind Gatlin and Bolt at the World Champs
5). Godfrey Mokoena: Long Jump and Triple Jump
2015 hasn't been a stellar year for Mokoena by his own high standards, but the National record holder is still an Olympic medal holder as he claimed Silver at the 2008 Olympic Games. Last year he also managed to win Gold at the Commonwealth games in Scotland.
6). L.J Van Zyl: 400m Hurdles
LJ holds the South African national record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 47.66 seconds and represented the country at both the '08 and 2012 Olympic Games.
Some of these names most likely will have retired by the time 2022 comes around. But with the recent announcement of Durban being named hosts to the Commonwealth games in 7 years, one can hope that these names and their performances can spark a new wave of young South African talent to represent the green and gold.
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