South Africa at the 2012 Summer Olympics
IOC code	RSA
NOC	South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee
Website	www.sascoc.co.za
in London
Competitors	125 in 17 sports
Flag bearers	Caster Semenya (opening) [1] Oscar Pistorius (closing)
Medals Ranked 23rd	Gold 4 Silver 1 Bronze 1 Total 6
Summer Olympics appearances ( overview)
1904 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964–1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024

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, ^[2] 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

Archery

Athlete	Event	Ranking round		Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final / BM
		Score	Seed	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Karen Hultzer	Women's individual	631	46	Lionetti ( ITA) (19) L 2–6	Did 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. ^[3] Oscar Pistorius made Olympic history, becoming the first double leg amputee ever to participate in the Olympic Games. ^[4]

Track & road events

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Lusapho April	Marathon	—				2:19:00	43
Lehann Fourie	110 m hurdles	13.49	2 Q	13.28	3 q	13.53	7
Cornel Fredericks	400 m hurdles	52.29	8	Did not advance
Anaso Jobodwana	200 m	20.46	2 Q	20.27	2 Q	20.69	8
Stephen Mokoka	Marathon	—				2:19:52	49
Marc Mundell	50 km walk	—				3:55:32 AF	32
Coolboy Ngamole	Marathon	—				DNF
André Olivier	800 m	1:46.42	3 Q	1:45.44	5	Did not advance
Oscar Pistorius	400 m	45.44	2 Q	46.54	8	Did not advance
Louis van Zyl	400 m hurdles	50.31	6	Did not advance
Willem de Beer Shaun de Jager Ofentse Mogawane Oscar Pistorius Louis van Zyl	4 × 400 m relay	DNF*		—		3:03.46 SB	8

* Allowed into final on appeal

Field events

Athlete	Event	Qualification		Final
		Distance	Position	Distance	Position
Godfrey Khotso Mokoena	Long jump	8.02	7 q	7.93	8

Combined events – Decathlon

Athlete	Event	100 m	LJ	SP	HJ	400 m	110H	DT	PV	JT	1500 m	Final	Rank
Willem Coertzen	Result	11.09	7.17	13.79	2.05	48.56	14.15	43.58	4.50	64.79	4:26.52	8173	9
	Points	841	854	715	850	882	955	738	760	810	768

Women

Track & road events

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Rene Kalmer	Marathon	—				2:30:51	35
Tanith Maxwell		—				2:40:27	81
Caster Semenya	800 m	2:00.71	2 Q	1:57.67 SB	1 Q	1:57.23
Irvette van Blerk	Marathon	—				DNF

Field events

Athlete	Event	Qualification		Final
		Distance	Position	Distance	Position
Sunette Viljoen	Javelin throw	65.92	3 Q	64.53	4

Badminton

Athlete	Event	Group Stage				Elimination	Quarterfinal	Semifinal	Final / BM
		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Dorian James Willem Viljoen	Men's doubles	Boe / Mogensen ( DEN) L 6–21, 12–21	Chai B / Guo Zd ( CHN) L 8–21, 13–21	Ivanov / Sozonov ( RUS) L 13–21, 15–21	4	Did not advance
Michelle Edwards Annari Viljoen	Women's doubles	Choo / Veeran ( AUS) L 9–21, 7–21	Ha J-e / Kim M-j ( KOR) L 8–21, 7–21	Jauhari / Polii ( INA) L 18–21, 10–21	2 Q	Sorokina / Vislova ( RUS) L 9–21, 7–21	Did not advance

Boxing

South Africa has entered boxers for the following events ^[5]

Men

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Ayabonga Sonjica	Bantamweight	Dalakliev ( BUL) L 6–15	Did not advance
Siphiwe Lusizi	Welterweight	Abdul-Karim ( IRQ) W 17–13	Maestre ( VEN) L 13–18	Did not advance

Canoeing

Sprint

South Africa has entered canoeists for the following events

Athlete	Event	Heats		Semifinals		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Bridgitte Hartley	Women's K-1 500 m	1:53.051	2 Q	1:51.286	1 FA	1:52.923
Tiffany Kruger	Women's K-1 200 m	46.122	7	Did not advance

Qualification Legend: FA = Qualify to final (medal); FB = Qualify to final B (non-medal)

Cycling

South Africa has entered nine cyclists.

Road

Athlete	Event	Time	Rank
Daryl Impey	Men's road race	5:46:37	40
Robyn de Groot	Women's road race	OTL
Ashleigh Moolman	Women's road race	3:35:56	16
	Women's time trial	42:23.57	24
Joanna van de Winkel	Women's road race	3:35:56	28

Track

Sprint

Athlete	Event	Qualification		Round 1	Repechage 1	Round 2	Repechage 2	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final
		Time Speed (km/h)	Rank	Opposition Time Speed (km/h)	Opposition Time Speed (km/h)	Opposition Time Speed (km/h)	Opposition Time Speed (km/h)	Opposition Time Speed (km/h)	Opposition Time Speed (km/h)	Opposition Time Speed (km/h)	Rank
Bernard Esterhuizen	Men's sprint	10.350 69.565	15	Förstemann ( GER) L	Mazquiarán ( ESP)   Zhang M ( CHN) W 10.762 66.902	Kenny ( GBR) L	Förstemann ( GER)   Kelemen ( CZE) L	Did not advance		9th place final   Nakagawa ( JPN)   Kelemen ( CZE)   Canelón ( VEN) L	11

Mountain biking

Athlete	Event	Time	Rank
Phillip Buys	Men's cross-country [6]	1:40:11	35
Burry Stander		1:29:37	5
Candice Neethling	Women's cross-country [7]	1:45:03	28

• 
  Burry Stander
• 
  Philip Buys
• 
  Candice Neethling

BMX

Athlete	Event	Seeding		Quarterfinal		Semifinal		Final
		Result	Rank	Points	Rank	Points	Rank	Result	Rank
Sifiso Nhlapo	Men's BMX	40.788	30	27	8	Did not advance

Equestrian

Eventing

Athlete	Horse	Event	Dressage		Cross-country			Jumping						Total
								Qualifier			Final
			Penalties	Rank	Penalties	Total	Rank	Penalties	Total	Rank	Penalties	Total	Rank	Penalties	Rank
Alexander Peternell [8]	Asih	Individual	70.40	72	46.00	116.40	56	7.00	123.40	=27	Did not advance			123.40	49

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

The following is the South African roster in the men's field hockey tournament of the 2012 Summer Olympics. ^[9]

Head Coach: Gregg Clark

Reserves:

• Jacques Le Roux (GK)

Group play

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Australia	5	3	2	0	23	5	+18	11	Semi-finals
2	Great Britain (H)	5	2	3	0	14	8	+6	9
3	Spain	5	2	2	1	8	10	−2	8	Fifth place game
4	Pakistan	5	2	1	2	9	16	−7	7	Seventh place game
5	Argentina	5	1	1	3	10	14	−4	4	Ninth place game
6	South Africa	5	0	1	4	11	22	−11	1	Eleventh place game

30 July 2012 10:45 Australia  6–0   South Africa Dywer   16',  48',  58' Butturini   33' Ciriello   46' Turner   62' Report Umpires: Roel van Eert (NED) Marcin Grochal (POL)

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1 August 2012 16:00 South Africa  2–2   Great Britain Smith   60' Robinson   64' Report Jackson   14',  68' Umpires: Nigel Iggo (NZL) Roel van Eert (NED)

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3 August 2012 19:00 South Africa  2–3   Spain Reid-Ross   26' Norris-Jones   63' Report Salles   30' Quemada   42' Delas   55' Umpires: German Montes de Oca (ARG) Tim Pullman (AUS)

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5 August 2012 10:45 Pakistan  5–4   South Africa Khan   20',  26' Rasool   23' Abbas   64' Ahmed   67' Report McDade   2' Reid-Ross   22',  35' Paton   48' Umpires: Marcelo Servetto (ESP) Colin Hutchinson (IRL)

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7 August 2012 13:45 Argentina  6–3   South Africa Peillat   25',  39',  65' Rossi   33' Callioni   45',  50' Report Reid-Ross   7' Norris-Jones   8' Robinson   64' Umpires: Raghu Prasad (IND) Nathan Stagno (GIB)

11th/12th place

11 August 2012 08:30 South Africa  3–2   India Cronje   8' Drummond   34' Norris-Jones   65' Report San. Singh   14' D. Singh   67' Umpires: Kim Hong-lae (KOR) German Montes de Oca (ARG)

Women's tournament

Roster

The following is the South Africa roster in the women's field hockey tournament of the 2012 Summer Olympics. ^[10]

Head Coach: Giles Bonnet

Reserves:

• Vuyisanani Mangisa (GK)
• Lauren Penny

Group play

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Argentina	5	3	1	1	12	4	+8	10	Semi-finals
2	New Zealand	5	3	1	1	9	5	+4	10
3	Australia	5	3	1	1	5	2	+3	10
4	Germany	5	2	1	2	6	7	−1	7
5	South Africa	5	1	0	4	9	14	−5	3
6	United States	5	1	0	4	4	13	−9	3

29 July 2012 16:00 Argentina  7–1   South Africa Aymar   8',  29' J. Sruoga   20' Cavallero   25' Rebecchi   31' Barrionuevo   62' D'Elía   68' Report Chamberlain   23' Umpires: Miao Lin (CHN) Lisa Roach (AUS)

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31 July 2012 10:45 South Africa  1–4   New Zealand Coetzee   52' Report C. Harrison   2' Eshuis   22' Sharland   29',  61' Umpires: Chieko Soma (JPN) Amy Hassick (USA)

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2 August 2012 16:00 South Africa  0–2   Germany Report Mavers   25' Rinne   44' Umpires: Elena Eskina (RUS) Kang Hyun-young (KOR)

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4 August 2012 08:30 Australia  1–0   South Africa Close   8' Report Umpires: Miao Lin (CHN) Amy Hassick (USA)

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6 August 2012 10:45 United States  0–7   South Africa Report Bright   14',  44' George   20' Wilson   25' Coetzee   33',  62' Chamberlain   54' Umpires: Frances Block (GBR) Claire Adenot (FRA)

9th/10th place

8 August 2012 08:30 Japan  2–1 ( a.e.t.)   South Africa Murakami   63',  80' Report Deetlefs   27' Umpires: Stella Bartlema (NED) Amy Hassick (USA)

Football

South Africa is qualified for the women's event.

• Women's team event – 1 team of 18 players

Women's tournament

Team roster

Head coach: Joseph Mkhonza

South Africa named a squad of 18 players and 4 alternates for the tournament. ^[11]

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1 GK	Roxanne Barker	(1991-05-06)6 May 1991 (aged 21)	6	0	Pepperdine University
2	3 MF	Robyn Moodaly	(1994-06-16)16 June 1994 (aged 18)	12	1	High Performance Centre
3	2 DF	Nothando Vilakazi	(1988-10-28)28 October 1988 (aged 23)	30	6	Palace Super Falcons
4	2 DF	Amanda Sister	(1990-03-01)1 March 1990 (aged 22)	33	1	Liverpool Eastern Cape
5	2 DF	Janine van Wyk	(1987-04-17)17 April 1987 (aged 25)	76	8	Palace Super Falcons
6	2 DF	Zamandosi Cele	(1990-12-26)26 December 1990 (aged 21)	18	0	Durban
7	3 MF	Leandra Smeda	(1989-07-22)22 July 1989 (aged 23)	19	3	Cape Town Roses
8	3 MF	Kylie Louw	(1989-01-15)15 January 1989 (aged 23)	72	7	Stephen F. Austin State University
9	3 MF	Amanda Dlamini ( captain)	(1988-07-22)22 July 1988 (aged 24)	49	16	University of Johannesburg
10	3 MF	Marry Ntsweng	(1989-12-19)19 December 1989 (aged 22)	41	1	Tshwane University
11	4 FW	Noko Matlou	(1985-09-30)30 September 1985 (aged 26)	74	55	University of Johannesburg
12	4 FW	Portia Modise	(1983-06-20)20 June 1983 (aged 29)	92	71	Palace Super Falcons
13	3 MF	Gabisile Hlumbane	(1986-12-20)20 December 1986 (aged 25)	33	0	Kovsies
14	4 FW	Sanah Mollo	(1987-01-30)30 January 1987 (aged 25)	26	8	Bloemfontein Celtic
15	2 DF	Refiloe Jane	(1992-08-04)4 August 1992 (aged 19)	5	0	Mamelodi Sundowns
16	3 MF	Mpumi Nyandeni	(1987-08-19)19 August 1987 (aged 24)	93	7	WFC Rossiyanka
17	4 FW	Andisiwe Mgcoyi	(1988-07-03)3 July 1988 (aged 24)	21	4	Mamelodi Sundowns
18	1 GK	Thokozile Mndaweni	(1981-08-08)8 August 1981 (aged 30)	57	1	University of Johannesburg

Group play

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Sweden	3	1	2	0	6	3	+3	5	Qualified for the quarter-finals
2	Japan	3	1	2	0	2	1	+1	5
3	Canada	3	1	1	1	6	4	+2	4
4	South Africa	3	0	1	2	1	7	−6	1

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Judo

Athlete	Event	Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage	Final / BM
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Gideon van Zyl	Men's −73 kg	Bye	Orujov ( AZE) L 0101–0100	Did not advance

Rowing

South Africa has entered the following events.

Men

Athlete	Event	Heats		Repechage		Semifinals		Finals
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Matthew Brittain Sizwe Ndlovu John Smith James Thompson	Lightweight four	5:54.62	2 SA/B	Bye		6:04.21	2 FA	6:02.84

Women

Athlete	Event	Heats		Repechage		Finals
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Lee-Ann Persse Naydene Smith	Pair	7:14.31	4 R	7:18.96	5 FB	7:56.40	7

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

Athlete	Event	Race											Net points	Final rank
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	M*
Asenathi Jim Roger Hudson	470	18	27	27	20	26	26	13	15	25	24	EL	194	26

M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race;

Shooting

South Africa has entered one competitor in shooting; ^[15]

Men

Athlete	Event	Qualification		Final
		Points	Rank	Points	Rank
Alistair Davis	Double trap	132	15	Did not advance

Swimming

Twenty South African swimmers have entered the following events:

Men

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Charl Crous	100 m backstroke	55.37	33	Did not advance
Heerden Herman	400 m freestyle	3:57.28	25	—		Did not advance
	1500 m freestyle	15:25.71	21	—		Did not advance
Chad le Clos	100 m butterfly	51.54	1 Q	51.42	2 Q	51.44
	200 m butterfly	1:55.23	4 Q	1:54.34 AF	3 Q	1:52.96 AF
	200 m individual medley	1:59.45	11 Q	1:58.49	=7 Q	Withdrew
	400 m individual medley	4:12.24	2 Q	—		4:12.42	5
Gideon Louw	50 m freestyle	22.12	11 Q	21.92	9	Did not advance
	100 m freestyle	48.29	2 Q	48.44	=9	Did not advance
Graeme Moore	100 m freestyle	49.29	21	Did not advance
Darren Murray	200 m backstroke	2:00.01	25	Did not advance
Troyden Prinsloo	10 km open water	—				1:50:52.9	12
Riaan Schoeman	400 m individual medley	4:17.22	19	—		Did not advance
Roland Mark Schoeman	50 m freestyle	21.92	5 Q	21.88	=7 Q	21.80	6
Darian Townsend	200 m individual medley	2:00.67	21	Did not advance
Cameron van der Burgh	100 m breaststroke	59.79	6 Q	58.83 OR	1 Q	58.46 WR
Gideon Louw Graeme Moore Roland Mark Schoeman Darian Townsend	4 × 100 m freestyle relay	3:13.93	7 Q	—		3:13.45	5
Jean Basson Chad le Clos Sebastien Rousseau Darian Townsend	4 × 200 m freestyle relay	7:11.51	7 Q	—		7:09.65	7
Charl Crous Chad le Clos Gideon Louw Leith Shankland Darian Townsend Cameron van der Burgh	4 × 100 m medley relay	3:35.23	13	—		Did not advance

Women

Athlete	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Trudi Maree	50 m freestyle	25.78	36	Did not advance
Kathryn Meaklim	200 m individual medley	2:15.25	24	Did not advance
	400 m individual medley	4:43.46	16	—		Did not advance
Karin Prinsloo	200 m freestyle	1:59.24	20	Did not advance
	200 m backstroke	2:10.34	13 Q	2:11.42	16	Did not advance
Jessica Roux	10 km open water	—				DNF
Wendy Trott	400 m freestyle	4:11.63	22	—		Did not advance
	800 m freestyle	8:28.98	12	—		Did not advance
Suzaan van Biljon	100 m breaststroke	1:07.54	12 Q	1:07.68	11	Did not advance
	200 m breaststroke	2:25.94	9 Q	2:23.21 AF	5 Q	2:23.72	7

Triathlon

South Africa has entered one man and two women.

Athlete	Event	Swim (1.5 km)	Trans 1	Bike (40 km)	Trans 2	Run (10 km)	Total Time	Rank
Richard Murray	Men's	18:11	0:35	59:38	0:26	30:25	1:49:15	17
Kate Roberts	Women's	19:23	0:40	1:07:21	0:34	34:48	2:02:46	22
Gillian Sanders		19:29	0:38	1:05:31	0:32	36:18	2:02:28	19

Volleyball

Beach

Athlete	Event	Preliminary round	Standing	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Final / BM
		Opposition Score		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Freedom Chiya Grant Goldschmidt	Men's	Pool D   Gibb – Rosenthal ( USA) L 0 – 2 (10–21, 11–21)   Samoilovs – Sorokins ( LAT) L 0 – 2 (13–21, 10–21)   Fijałek – Prudel ( POL) L 0 – 2 (19–21, 13–21)	4	Did not advance				19

Weightlifting

South Africa has entered one weightlifter.

Athlete	Event	Snatch		Clean & Jerk		Total	Rank
		Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Jean Greeff	Men's −94 kg	137	20	176	20	313	20

See also

• South Africa at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
• South Africa at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics

References