According to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, the country intends to send a strong team of more than 80 athletes to the Rio 2016 Olympics. These athletes will participate in individual and team events including athletics, swimming, canoeing, badminton, cycling, gymnastics, diving, golf, triathlon, judo, football (men and women), rowing, sailing, equestrian, and men’s rugby. Since South African athletes have traditionally excelled in sports such as men’s rugby and swimming, you can easily make money by betting on South African athletes. Fortunately, William Hill offers bets on track and field disciplines. The events South Africa has the most chances of winning in the upcoming Olympics include:
400m (women)
During the recently concluded South African Championships in Stellenbosch, Semenya was in imperious form, winning the 400m race in 50.74. This makes her a strong contender for gold in Rio. However, she will likely face stiff competition from Courtney Okolo who registered a world-leading time of 50.69 during the IAAF World Indoor Championships held in Portland, USA.
800m (women)
Caster Semenya is also expected to clinch the 800m gold in Rio after running a world-leading time of 1:56.64 during the Prince Moulay Abdellah IAAF meet in Rabat, Morocco. However, she will likely face fierce competition from Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba and Kenya’s Margaret Nyairera Wambui who hold the second (1:56.92) and third (1:57.52) leading times registered in 2016.
400m (men)
Wayde Van Niekerk holds the second fastest 400m time (44.11) recorded in 2016 and is likely to win a medal in Rio. Only Kirani James (Grenada) has run faster (44.08) than Van Niekerk in 2016. Others contenders for a podium finish include The USA’s LeShawn Merritt (44.22) and Botswana’s Baboloki Thebe (44.22).
100m and 200m butterfly (men)
Chad Le Clos is gunning for podium finishes in both the 100m and 200m butterfly (swimming) events. He is the world record holder in the men’s 100m (short-course) and 200m (short-course) butterfly swimming events.
100m backstroke (men)
Christopher Reid has been posting times that would have made him a 100m backstroke finalist at the 2012 London Olympics and is a top medal prospect in Rio, Brazil.
100m breaststroke (men)
Since he clinched 100m breaststroke gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Cameron van der Burgh has been in impressive form finishing in the top three at major swimming events, making him a potential medal contender in Rio, Brazil.
4×100m medley relay
The 4×100m medley relay team that includes Cameron van der Burgh, Chad Le Clos, and Cristopher Reid is among the gold medal favorites.
Triathlon (men)
Richard Murray has consistently finished in the top three at top triathlon races globally in the last three years, making him a strong medal contender in Rio.
Rowing (men)
John Smith and James Thompson are strong medal hopefuls in the “lightweight double sculls” event.
Rowing (women)
Kirsten McCann and Ursula Grobler are expected to be among the women’s lightweight double sculls event medalists. They won bronze during the 2015 world rowing championships.
Conclusion
South Africa is sending a strong contingent of seasoned athletes to the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. These athletes are expected to bag ten or more medals during this global sporting event. South Africa’s top medal contenders include Wayde van Niekerk, Chad Le Clos, Caster Semenya, Christopher Reid, Richard Murray and Cameron van der Burgh.
