South Africa competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's sixteenth overall and fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics in the post-apartheid era. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) sent a total of 106 athletes to the Games, 66 men and 40 women, to compete in 19 sports. Field hockey was the only team-based sport in which South Africa had its representation at these Games. There was only a single competitor in archery, canoeing, diving, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, judo, sailing, shooting, taekwondo, and wrestling.
The South African team featured four Olympic medalists from Sydney: breaststroke swimmer Terence Parkin, high jumper Hestrie Cloete, discus thrower Frantz Kruger, and hurdler Llewellyn Herbert. Several athletes made their third consecutive Olympic appearance, including freestyle Ryk Neethling and middle distance runner Hezekiél Sepeng, who previously won the silver in Atlanta for the men's 800 metres. Sepeng's fellow runner and teammate Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, a top medal contender on the same event, later became the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.
South Africa left Athens with a remarkable tally of six Olympic medals, one gold, three silver, and two bronze, being considered its most successful Olympics since the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The highlight of the South African team at these Games came with a surprising triumph in men's swimming, when Roland Mark Schoeman, Ryk Neethling, Lyndon Ferns, and Darian Townsend held a major upset on the Aussies, Americans, and the Dutch for a new world record and a prestigious gold medal in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. Furthermore, Schoeman completed a full set of medals to become the most decorated South African athlete at these Games, adding his silver in the men's 100 m freestyle and bronze in the men's 50 m freestyle. Cloete managed to repeat her silver from Sydney in the women's high jump, while Donovan Cech and Ramon di Clemente claimed a bronze for the first time in men's rowing.
Field hockey players Craig and Natalie Fulton became the first married couple to represent South Africa at the same Olympic Games.
Medalists
Medal Name Sport Event Date Swimming Men's 4 × 100 m freestyle relay Swimming Men's 100 m freestyle Athletics Men's 800 m Athletics Women's high jump Swimming Men's 50 m freestyle Rowing Men's pair
Archery
One South African archer qualified for the women's individual archery through the African Championships.
AthleteEventRanking roundRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / ScoreSeedOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankKirstin Jean LewisWomen's individual60652W 141–131W 157–153L 142–156Did not advance
Athletics
South African athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard).
Men Track & road events AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankShaun Bownes110 m hurdles13.686 q13.626Did not advanceOckert Cilliers400 m hurdles49.123 Qcolspan=2 49.016Did not advanceJohan Cronje 1500 m3:40.998 qcolspan=2 3:44.4111Did not advanceLlewellyn Herbert400 m hurdles48.704 Qcolspan=2 48.575Did not advanceLeigh Julius200 m20.806Did not advanceMarcus La Grange400 m45.953colspan=2 Did not advanceAlwyn Myburgh400 m hurdles48.442 Qcolspan=2 48.213 q49.077Mbulaeni Mulaudzi800 m1:45.721 Qcolspan=2 1:46.092 Q1:44.61Hendrick RamaalaMarathoncolspan=6 Ruben Ramolefi3000 m steeplechase8:46.1713colspan=4 Did not advanceHezekiél Sepeng800 m1:46.822 Qcolspan=2 1:44.754 q1:45.536Ian SysterMarathoncolspan=6 Gert Thyscolspan=6 2:16:0816Ockert CilliersMarcus La GrangeArnaud MalherbeHendrick Mokganyetsi4 × 400 m relaycolspan=4 Did not advance
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionOkkert BritsPole vault5.6019Did not advanceJacques FreitagHigh jump2.20=20Did not advanceHannes HopleyDiscus throw63.894 q62.588Frantz Kruger62.329 q64.345Burger LambrechtsShot put18.6734Did not advanceGodfrey Khotso MokoenaTriple jump16.3229Did not advanceGerhardus PienaarJavelin throw79.9514Did not advanceJanus RobbertsShot put19.4121Did not advance
Women Track & road events AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankNicolene Cronje20 km walkcolspan=6 1:42:3747Surita Febbraio400 m hurdles56.496colspan=2 Did not advanceGeraldine Pillay100 m11.446Did not advanceHeide Seyerling200 m23.665Did not advanceEstie Wittstock400 m51.894 qcolspan=2 51.776Did not advance
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionHestrie CloeteHigh jump1.95=1 Q2.02Elizna NaudeDiscus throw58.7420Did not advanceSunette ViljoenJavelin throw54.4535Did not advance
Combined events – Heptathlon AthleteEvent 200 m 800 mFinalRankJanice JosephsResult13.691.7012.4823.376.2141.802:18.47607419Points10238556931042915702844
Badminton
AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankChris DednamMen's singlesL 1–15, 10–15Did not advanceStewart CarsonDorian JamesMen's doublesL 4–15, 1–15Did not advanceMichelle Edwards Women's singlesL 6–11, 3–11Did not advanceChantal BottsMichelle Edwards Women's doublesL 0–15, 0–15Did not advanceChris DednamAntoinette Uys Mixed doublesL 3–15, 9–15Did not advance
Boxing
South Africa sent three boxers to Athens.
AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankLodumo GaladaFeatherweightL Did not advanceBongani MahlanguWelterweightL 14–22Did not advanceKhotso MotauMiddleweightL 22–25Did not advance
Canoeing
Sprint AthleteEventHeatsSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankAlan van CollerMen's K-1 500 m1:40.0891 q1:41.1314Did not advanceMen's K-1 1000 m3:32.5166 q3:32.8935Did not advance Qualification Legend: Q = Qualify to final; q = Qualify to semifinal
Cycling
Road AthleteEventTimeRankRyan CoxMen's road race5:50:3568Robert HunterDid not finishTiaan KannemeyerDid not finishAnriette SchoemanWomen's road race3:40:4355
Diving
South African divers qualified for two individual spots at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Women AthleteEventPreliminariesSemifinalsFinalPointsRankPointsRankPointsRankJenna Dreyer3 m springboard267.8417 Q464.4317Did not advance10 m platform186.9034Did not advance
Fencing
Women AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / Opposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreRankRachel BarlowIndividual épéeL 8–14Did not advanceNatalia TychlerL 8–15Did not advanceKelly-Anne WilsonL 6–15Did not advanceRachel BarlowNatalia TychlerKelly-Anne WilsonTeam épéecolspan=2 L 15–34Did not advance9
Field hockey Men's tournament
Roster
Group play
Classification match (9th–12th place)
9th place final
Women's tournament
Roster
Group play
9th place final
Gymnastics
Artistic Women AthleteEventQualificationFinalApparatusTotalRankApparatusTotalRankZandré LabuschagneAll-around9.0128.3128.0757.52532.92460Did not advance
Rhythmic AthleteEventQualificationFinalHoopBallClubsRibbonTotalRankHoopBallClubsRibbonTotalRankStephanie SandlerIndividual18.55018.52519.10017.10073.27522Did not advance
Judo
South Africa has qualified a single judoka.
AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechage 1Repechage 2Repechage 3Final / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankHenriette MollerWomen's −63 kgL 0000–1000Did not advance
Rowing
South African rowers qualified the following boats:
Men AthleteEventHeatsRepechageSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankDonovan CechRamon di ClementePair6:57.061 SA/Bcolspan=2 6:28.483 FA6:33.40 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; R=Repechage
Sailing
South African sailors have qualified one boat for each of the following events.
Open AthleteEventRaceNet pointsFinal rank12345678910M*Gareth BlanckenbergLaser2216311325111061982615617 M = Medal race; OCS = On course side of the starting line; DSQ = Disqualified; DNF = Did not finish; DNS= Did not start; RDG = Redress given
Shooting
Men AthleteEventQualificationFinalPointsRankPointsRankMartin Senore50 m rifle prone58839Did not advance
Swimming
South African swimmers earned qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of 2 swimmers in each event at the A-standard time, and 1 at the B-standard time):
Men AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankEugene Botes100 m butterfly54.1530Did not advanceLyndon Ferns50 m freestyle22.5316 Q22.4614Did not advanceRyk Neethling100 m freestyle48.85=2 Q49.187 Q48.634Terence Parkin100 m breaststroke1:03.0524Did not advance200 m breaststroke2:14.1212 Q2:13.5812Did not advanceRoland Mark Schoeman50 m freestyle22.41=8 Q21.991 Q22.02100 m freestyle49.6813 Q48.391 Q48.23Darian Townsend200 m individual medley2:07.0437Did not advanceGerhard Zandberg100 m backstroke55.6212 Q55.7613Did not advanceLyndon FernsRyk NeethlingRoland Mark SchoemanDarian Townsend4 × 100 m freestyle relay3:13.841 Qcolspan=2 3:13.17 Eugene BotesTerence ParkinKarl Otto ThaningGerhard Zandberg4 × 100 m medley relay3:43.9413colspan=2 Did not advance
Taekwondo
AthleteEventRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechage 1Repechage 2Final / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankDuncan MahlanguMen's −68 kgL 7–11Did not advance
Triathlon
Two South African triathletes qualified for the following events.
AthleteEventSwim (1.5 km)Trans 1Bike (40 km)Trans 2Run (10 km)Total TimeRankConrad StoltzMen's19:350:17Did not finishMegan HallWomen's19:390:211:16:280:2640:192:16:26.5336
Volleyball
Beach
AthleteEventPreliminary roundStandingRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankColin PocockGershon RorichMen'sPool FW 2 – 1 (21–16, 24–26, 15–10)L 0 – 2 (13–21, 15–21)W 2 – 0 (22–20, 22–20)2 QL 0 – 2 (14–21, 10–21)Did not advanceLeigh Ann NaidooJulia WillandWomen'sPool BL 0 – 2 (7–21, 10–21)L 0 – 2 (19–21, 16–21)L 0 – 2 (18–21, 14–21)4Did not advance
Wrestling
Men's freestyle AthleteEventElimination PoolQuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionResultOppositionResultRankOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankShaun Williams−55 kgL 1–4 L 1–3 3Did not advance17
See also South Africa at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
References
External links Official Report of the XXVIII Olympiad South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC)