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South Africa's top female Olympians – part 2

12 August 2016

Team South Africa began its Rio Olympics campaign this week, and among the 137 athletes competing this year are some of the country's outstanding female athletes, representing a wide range of sporting disciplines. To celebrate Women's Month, here is a look at another five of the best.

Linda Motlhalo – football

linda motlhalo Aiming For RIO 2016 Big For More Go To For More- https://t.co/bXbHLCHtxv pic.twitter.com/uCt2ZtU9Vo

— game-on-mag (@MySportMyLife) April 22, 2016

At 18, Linda Motlhalo is one of Banyana Banyana's youngest scoring sensations and while Rio might be her biggest career moment so far, it definitely won't be the last. Hailing from Brandvlei, Randfontein's hotbed of football talent, Motlhalo dreams big yet is comfortable at her own pace.

The South African Football Association's Fran Hilton-Smith calls her the future of women's football in South Africa. "What stands out about her is her big-match temperament," she told City Press. "From the first time I saw her, I knew she was going places… Her tactical awareness at her age is very good and I believe she is in good hands with (Banyana coach) Vera Pauw."

Motlhalo has scored three goals in four games in South African colours, and is not planning on stopping.

Janine van Wyk – football

#RSA' Kapitänin Janine van Wyk ist trotz Auftaktpleite gegen #SWE stolz: https://t.co/2Mw4Q1j8Xa pic.twitter.com/jm2NK5n9Ky

— FIFA.com auf deutsch (@fifacom_de) August 4, 2016

Cool-headed veteran Janine van Wyk is leading Banyana at the Rio Olympics this year, her second Olympics. As South African football's most capped football player (male and female), scoring 10 goals as defender in 160 games, she brings confident leadership and creative talent to the Rio team.

While the prospect of Banyana making it to the next stage of the tournament hangs in the balance – with losses to Sweden and China, and a gutsy draw against hosts Brazil – Van Wyk is determined to make sure her teammates enjoy the experience and, above all, use it to learn for the future.

Dominique Scott – athletics

I'm actually here... Dreams DO come true!!! #Olympics #Rio2016 #TeamSA #RSA pic.twitter.com/FOvcgEwc5E

— DOM • SCOTT-EFURD (@domscottrunSA) August 5, 2016

When Dominique Scott begins the 10 000m race on Friday, 12 August, she'll no doubt be thinking of South African runners who have tackled one of athletics' more gruelling events before her: most notably Elena Meyer. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Meyer won South Africa's first post-isolation medal. Scott was born in 1992.

The determined Capetonian has already built a formidable junior career, winning two golds in the 2010 South African junior championships and going on to show impressive progress as part of her American college team at the University of Arkansas. Before leaving for Rio, she won both the 10 000m and 5 000m finals at the National College Athletics Association Outdoor championships.

Michelle Weber – open water marathon swimming

See the other photos from my Women's Health shoot on my site @WomensHealthSA @ArenaSAfrica https://t.co/3bCQs7zv4J pic.twitter.com/GMfIrccumd

— Michelle Weber (@michelleweber71) July 26, 2016

Michelle Weber is the only female swimmer representing South Africa in Rio this year. Her marathon is on Monday, 15 August.

Weber, who underwent serious heart surgery three years ago, decided to specialise in the more paced marathon events in lieu of shorter swims. The change seems to have worked for her – Weber has won the 5km and 10km events at the South African Senior Championships for three consecutive years.

Ashleigh Simon – golf

SA's @ash_simon closes with a 73 @RICOHWomensBrit to grab a share of 47th on one-over-par 289 pic.twitter.com/a8jcLdh7mr

— Sunshine Ladies Tour (@SLadiesTour) July 31, 2016

Ashleigh Simon shot to fame as one of South Africa's prodigious young golfing talents, becoming the youngest player to win the ladies' South African Amateur tournament, and the first player in over a century to win the ladies' South African Open title three times.

Since turning professional at the age of 18, Simon has participated in the US and British Opens, and is a regular on the European and American PGA tours, on which she has won six individual tournaments. Simon has also won numerous South Africa tournaments, and represented South Africa at the women's golf World Cup for four consecutive years.

"Rio," Simon told the Bedfordview and Edenvale community newspaper, "is going to be something different (from the normal professional circuit). Golf is an individual sport and (our doubles) team (with Paula Reto) will have to work together… It is important for golfers on the South African team to have a good short game."

Source: South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee

Southafrica.info reporter

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