South Africa at the 2004 Summer Olympics information
Sporting event delegation
South Africa at the 2004 Summer Olympics
IOC code
RSA
NOC
South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee
Website
www.sascoc.co.za
in Athens
Competitors
106 in 19 sports
Flag bearer
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi[1]
Medals Ranked 43rd
Gold
1
Silver
3
Bronze
2
Total
6
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1904
1908
1912
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964–1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
South Africa competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's sixteenth overall and fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics in the post-apartheid era. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) sent a total of 106 athletes to the Games, 66 men and 40 women, to compete in 19 sports. Field hockey was the only team-based sport in which South Africa had its representation at these Games. There was only a single competitor in archery, canoeing, diving, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, judo, sailing, shooting, taekwondo, and wrestling.
The South African team featured four Olympic medalists from Sydney: breaststroke swimmer Terence Parkin, high jumper Hestrie Cloete, discus thrower Frantz Kruger, and hurdler Llewellyn Herbert. Several athletes made their third consecutive Olympic appearance, including freestyle Ryk Neethling and middle distance runner Hezekiél Sepeng, who previously won the silver in Atlanta for the men's 800 metres. Sepeng's fellow runner and teammate Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, a top medal contender on the same event, later became the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.[1]
South Africa left Athens with a remarkable tally of six Olympic medals, one gold, three silver, and two bronze, being considered its most successful Olympics since the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. The highlight of the South African team at these Games came with a surprising triumph in men's swimming, when Roland Mark Schoeman, Ryk Neethling, Lyndon Ferns, and Darian Townsend held a major upset on the Aussies, Americans, and the Dutch for a new world record and a prestigious gold medal in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay.[2][3] Furthermore, Schoeman completed a full set of medals to become the most decorated South African athlete at these Games, adding his silver in the men's 100 m freestyle and bronze in the men's 50 m freestyle.[4] Cloete managed to repeat her silver from Sydney in the women's high jump, while Donovan Cech and Ramon di Clemente claimed a bronze for the first time in men's rowing.[5][6]
Field hockey players Craig and Natalie Fulton became the first married couple to represent South Africa at the same Olympic Games.[7][8]
^ abLombaard, Larry (12 August 2004). "Mulaudzi to carry the SA flag". Independent Online (South Africa). Retrieved 29 April 2014.
^"South African Men Take a Historic Relay Victory in 400 free – Smash World Record". Swimming World Magazine. 15 August 2004. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
^Zinser, Lynn (16 August 2012). "Olympics: Swimming; South Africa's Relay Upset Leaves U.S. and Phelps 3rd". New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
^Thomas, Stephen (20 August 2004). "Hall Does it Again, Repeats as 50 Free Champ". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
^"Stofile jumps in for Hestrie". News24. 31 August 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
^"A good day for South Africa in Athens". Mail & Guardian. 21 August 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
^"Man and wife team for Athens". www.news24.com. 19 July 2004. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
^"Van Zyls add to married couples at Games". www.supersport.com. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
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