Liberia's Joseph Fahnbulleh, South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk and Ivory Coast's Cheickna Traore compete in the men's 200m heat of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Liberia's Joseph Fahnbulleh, South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk and Ivory Coast's Cheickna Traore compete in the men's 200m heat of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France on Monday. Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP
South African sprint icon Wayde van Niekerk and Shaun Maswanganyi did enough to secure their passages into the semi-final of the Paris Olympics men’s 200m after they both finished third in their heats.
Looking to turn back the clock, the 32-year-old Van Niekerk, finished behind Joseph Fahnbulleh of Liberia and Eseosa Fostine Desalu of Italy in the first heat in a time of 20.42.
Wayde van Niekerk secured a spot in the men's 200m semifinals, finishing 3rd in round 1 with a time of 20.42. #TeamSA #ForMYCountry #Olympics pic.twitter.com/nrpTJAMHLs
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) August 5, 2024
Before the Olympics, he pulled out of his favoured 400m, of which he is the world record-holder, to focus on the 200m.
In heat five, Maswanganyi was equally impressive as he finished behind Erriyon Knighton of the United States and Tapiwanashe Makarawu of Zimbabwe to qualify for the semis.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Richardson, who was looking good after the turn of the third 200m heat, pulled up on the home straight with what looked like a pulled hamstring and unfortunately finished last in his heat.
Team SA’s Lythe Pillay and Zakithi Nene made the best of their second chances when they qualified for the men’s 400m semi-finals via the repechage.
Miranda Coetzee will also get a second chance of reaching the women’s 400m semi-finals via the repechage after finishing fourth in her heat on Monday.
Earlier in the day, Francois Prinsloo and Victor Hogan were eliminated from the men’s discuss qualification round after they both finished 13th in their separate groups.
In the sport climbing, Mel Janse van Rensburg didn’t make it through to the next round after picking up 9.4 points from his men’s semi-final boulder climb.
After making it through the qualification heats, Aniya Holder was beaten by the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder Aleksandra Miroslaw.
IOL Sport