SA 4x400m relay team's medal hopes take knock after Richardson's withdrawal
The 4x400m relay heats are on Friday morning.
South Africa's Benjamin Richardson pulls up with an injury while competing in the men's 200m heat of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on 5 August 2024. Picture: Jewel SAMAD/AFP
PARIS - South Africa’s 4x100m relay team are in action in the heats at Stade de France on Thursday morning, but by Wednesday night they still hadn’t finalised the order following the injury-enforced withdrawal of Benji Richardson.
And to make matters worse, Wayde van Niekerk finished last in his 200m semifinal on Wednesday night and then suggested he might not be good enough to make the 4x400m team.
Both relays were considered serious Olympic medal hopes at the beginning of the week, and suddenly there are more doubts than certainty.
Shaun Maswanganyi, who finished fourth in his 200m semifinal, said he wasn’t sure which leg he’d be running.
"Since Benji took a knock, we're going to have to try and move some people around. I might have to end up running the back stretch and truth be told, I've not really ran the back stretch before."
Wayde van Niekerk said he hated being so out of form and was not confident he’d make the 4x400m team.
"I obviously would love to contribute. But at the same time, it's what the team needs best and who's most healthy. So, I'd love to be part of it. But I mean, I'm going to need a few days to get myself right."
The 4x400m relay heats are on Friday morning.