South Africa at the 2010 Winter Olympics

South Africa at the
2010 Winter Olympics
IOC codeRSA
NOCSouth African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee
Websitewww.sascoc.co.za
in Vancouver
Competitors2 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Oliver Kraas
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Winter Olympics appearances (overview)

South Africa sent a delegation to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 12–28 February 2010. The South African team consisted of two athletes in two sports: alpine skier Peter Scott and cross-country skier Oliver Kraas. Neither of the South African athletes won a medal.

The athletes entering the stadium during the opening ceremonies.

Background

South Africa first entered Olympic competition at the 1904 St. Louis Summer Olympics. They made their debut at a Winter Olympic Games in the 1960 Winter Olympics.[1] From 1964 until 1991, South Africa was banned from the Olympics due to its practice of Apartheid.[2] South Africa was reinstated by the International Olympic Committee in 1991 following the end of Apartheid.[3] They returned to the Olympics for the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics.[1] The nation competed in every Winter Olympics from 1994 to these Vancouver Olympics in 2010.[1] The South African team consisted of two athletes; alpine skier Peter Scott and cross-country skier Oliver Kraas.[4] Krass was chosen as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony, while Alex Heath, a team coach, was chosen for the closing ceremony.[5][6]

Alpine skiing

Main article: Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics

South Africa qualified one entrant in alpine skiing.[7] That entrant, Peter Scott, was 19 years old at the time of the Vancouver Olympics.[8] In the men's giant slalom, held on 23 February, he failed to finish the first leg of the race.[9] His failure to finish was caused by leaving the starting gate too early, and then attempting to walk back up a "few meters".[10] Samir Azzimani, a fellow competitor, said Scott was disqualified, though the official records list him as a did not finish.[10]

Athlete Event Run 1 Run 2 Total Rank
Peter Scott Men's giant slalom DNF did not advance

Cross-country skiing

Main article: Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics

South Africa qualified one entrant in cross-country skiing,[7] Oliver Kraas, who was 34 at the time of the Games.[11] In his event, the men's sprint, he posted a time of 4 minutes and 4 seconds in the qualifying round, which placed him in 61st position.[12] As only the top 30 competitors advanced to the event's next stage, he was eliminated.[12]

Athlete Event Qualifying Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Oliver Kraas Sprint 4:04.19 61 did not advance

References

  1. ^ a b c "South Africa". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  2. ^ "1964: South Africa banned from Olympics". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  3. ^ Myers, Morley (9 July 1991). "South Africa returns to Olympics". United Press International. Archived from the original on 3 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  4. ^ "South Africa at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Complete list of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic flag-bearers". The Vancouver Sun. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  6. ^ "The Flagbearers for the Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 28 February 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Summary of Quota Allocation" (PDF). International Ski Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Peter Scott Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's Giant Slalom Run 1". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Alpine skiing: South African too fast for his own good". Reuters. 24 February 2010. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Oliver Kraas Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Cross Country Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's Sprint Qualifying Round". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.