Johannesburg – South Africa will be represented by 54 athletes in 14 sporting codes at the second Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China from August 16-28.
The African Youth Games held recently in Gaborone, Botswana served as a qualifier and athletes who won their events obtained direct qualification for the Nanjing Games.
“The Youth Olympics is an event that fills me with great excitement as we hope to unearth our future Olympic stars,” Sascoc president Gideon Sam said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We hope Team South Africa will provide more than one star who will go on to shine at the very highest level.
“May you all make a name for yourself in Nanjing.”
In the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore four years ago, swimmer Chad le Clos walked away with an impressive five medals and would, this year, be one of the Youth Ambassadors appointed by the IOC.
South African team:
ATHLETICS: Jason van Rooyen, Ronald Rakaku, Gezelle Magerman, Jo-Anne van Dyk, Leandri Geel, Taylon Bieldt, Yolandi Stander
Officials: Coach/Coach Manager - Chris White, Coach – Hendrik (Pierre) Blignaut
CANOEING: Donna Hutton
Coach/Code Manager – Debra Bird
CYCLING: Alex Limberg, Ivan Venter, Relebohile Pebane, Maia Rawlins
Coach/Code Manager – Tyrone Johns
EQUESTRIAN: Alexa Stais
Coach/Code Manager – Lorette Knowles-Taylor
GOLF: Kyle McClatchie, Kaleigh Telfer
Coach/Code manager – Gavin Raynolds
GYMNASTICS: Muhammad Mia, Mammule Rankoe, Shannon Gardiner
Coach/Code manager- Hendrik Scholtz, Coach – Nina Ervedosa
HOCKEY: Males: Cody Van Wyk, Garth Turner, Jacques Bleeker, Luke Schooling, Matthew Martins, Nqobile Ntuli, Sbongumenzi Dlungwana, Ryan Crowe, Tevin Kok
Females: Buhle Zondi, Natalie Esteves, Cheneal Raubenheimer, Simone Strydom, Demi Harmse, Kaydee Miller, Marizen Marais, Kristen Paton, Marie Louw
Code manager – Andrea Bernstein, Coaches - Bongani Tshutshani, Neville Rothman
JUDO: Unelle Snyman
Coach/Code manager- Mark Desfountain
SAILING: Calvin Gibbs, Megan Robertson
Coach/Code manager – Rob Holden
SHOOTING: Sybrand Laurens
Coach/Code manager – Anne Mortona
SWIMMING: Brent Szurdoki, Christopher Reid, Jarred Crous, Joshua Steyn, Justine Macfarlane, Marlies Ross, Nathania van Niekerk, Michelle Weber
Coach/Code manager – Igor Omeltchenko, Coach - Linda de Jager
TENNIS: Lloyd Harris
Coach/Code manager – Patric Tsunke
TRIATHLON: Nathan Le Roux, Jamie – Sue Vermaas
Coach/ Code Manager – Jonathan Rambelow
WRESTLING: Elbert Steyn, Reynhardt Louw, Leanco Stans
Coach/Code manager – Nico Coetzee – Sapa