Team SA looks worth its weight in gold

26 April 2016 - 02:29 By David Isaacson

Wednesday marks 100 days until the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 5. Team South Africa remains on track to achieve its best medal haul since readmission in 1992, bettering six gongs (three of them gold) at London 2012.SA has more than 20 medal hopes, although it is critical that they be fit and in form. Here, we give you the hopefuls:POSSIBLE REPEAT MEDALSChad Le Clos: He is eyeing at least three individual medals, adding to the two he won in London in the 100m and 200m butterfly. Le Clos is targeting the 200m freestyle. With Michael Phelps coming back in fly events, he can expect a torrid time.Cameron van der Burgh: The 100m Olympic breaststroke champion has stayed in the top three in the world since London. He's added the 200m breaststroke to his repertoire, although he says he's targeting only the final.Caster Semenya: The 800m 2012 silver medallist is hitting superb form. Is gold on the cards?James Thompson and John Smith: Part of rowing's golden fours crew last time. Teaming up in the lightweight double sculls they have won the world champs.Bridgitte Hartley: The kayaking bronze medallist in 2012 is an underdog, but prefers it that way. Khotso Mokoena: Silver medallist in the long jump in 2008, he will surely need a personal best to get a triple jump medal.FIRST-TIMERSWayde van Niekerk: The 400m world champion started the season by breaking the 10-second barrier in the 100m. Rugby sevens team: The Blitzboks have a good chance, but have struggled to get over the line in the world sevens series after getting into semifinals and finals.Christopher Reid: The backstroker came from nowhere to post times that would have got him into the 100m final at London 2012. He reckons he can go faster after some technical adjustments. Men's 4x100m medley relay team: Reid, Van der Burgh and Le Clos are a potent team. With a fast freestyler, gold beckons.Ursula Grobler and Kirsten McCann: Won bronze at the 2015 rowing world champs in the women's lightweight double sculls.Men's 4x200m freestyle relay: Le Clos is again the star, and if Myles Brown, Sebastien Rousseau and Calvyn Justus pull their weight, they can find the podium.Men's long jump: Ruswahl Samaai, Luvo Manyonga and Zarck Visser have the potential to deliver. Imagine two!Shaun Keeling and Lawrence Brittain: These rowers could repeat the men's heavyweight pairs success of Ramon Di Clemente and Don Cech at Athens 2004.Men's 4x100m relay: Assuming SA's athletics administrators actually coordinate the team's qualification for Rio, our four fastest sprinters can get close to a medal.Golf: The men have a decent chance.Lebogang Shange: The dark horse of the team has improved in leaps and bounds. Don't write off this race walker.STILL TO PERFORM THIS SEASONAnaso Jobodwana: The 200m bronze medallist at last year's world champs has yet to compete.Richard Murray: A broken collarbone has put his training on hold for at least six weeks.Sunette Viljoen: The javelin star has yet to find form.Cornel Fredericks: The No2 400m hurdler in the world in 2014, injured last year...

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