Ryan Patterson has vaulted his way into the Rio Olympic Games as the first South African male artistic gymnast to participate in the Olympics since 1956. US-based Patterson, 22, who came from Johannesburg, will take part in the artistic gymnastics category starting tomorrow, the day of the opening ceremony."I am very ready to go out there and represent South Africa," he said.Patterson participated in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010. "That was a huge highlight on my road to Rio and a competition where I was proud to have represented South Africa."This athlete, who has a business degree from the University of California (Berkeley), started gymnastics at the age of three attending "mommy and me" classes.By age seven he was competing.He said he was looking forward to the ceremony and being among the world's top athletes."Taking home gold would be lovely," he said.South African Gymnastics Federation chief executive Tseko Mogotsi said he was looking forward to Patterson's performance.Another South African Olympic hopeful is Jacob Maliekal, whose participation will fulfil a dream of eight years.Maliekal, who narrowly missed the 2012 London Olympics, is South Africa's only representative in badminton, which starts next week."I hope to do the country proud," said Maliekal. The 25-year-old, formerly from East London, now lives in China, and was introduced to the sport by his league-playing parents, Antony and Annie Maliekal when he was 10.He won gold in the 2011 and 2015 All Africa Games men's singles.Maliekal said making the cut for Rio meant a lot to him.Maliekal's coach, Chris Dednam, said: "Jacob has prepared well. He will do well. We are glad to have a participant."..