OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 10.30am.
OLYMPIC medalists Penny Heyns, Josia Thugwane and Hezekiel Sepeng top the National Olympic Committee of SA (Nocsa) list of 39 athletes allocated to the Operation Excellence programme which is aimed at sending a competitive team to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Athletes who qualify for Operation Excellence will get monthly retainers, kit, and access to advanced sports science institutes. The athletes will be extensively tested to ensure that they perform to their potential.
Also included in the list named by Nocsa president Sam Ramsamy in Johannesburg on Wednesday are world champion javelin specialist Marius Corbett, half-marathon world record-holder Elana Meyer, world indoor 800m champion Johan Botha and swimming’s World Youth Games double gold medal winner in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, Sarah Poewe.
Ramsamy noted the increas in Olympic budgets, from essentially nothing in Barcelona 1992 to R10-million in Atlanta in 1996, to R25-million for Sydney 2000.
The initial 39 athletes were nominated by the various sports federations. “Athletes will be added to the list, or subtracted from it depending on performances,” said Nocsa operations manager Tubby Reddy.
Ramsamy said that strict measures had been applied to avoid an Olympic contingent of “holiday makers.” “For Barcelona many holiday makers joined the team and several managed to sneak in at Atlanta. For Sydney we want to ensure that we take a full contingent of genuine competitors,” said Ramsamy.
Nocsa also allocates R60000 per team, and those sports having men and women teams will receive R120000. Preparation of teams for Sydney will commence after teams have been selected by Nocsa to represent South Africa.
The Operation Excellence list:
Archery: Jill Borresen, Kirsten Lewis.
Athletics: Marius Corbett, Llewellyn Herbert, Hezekiel Sepeng, Josia Thugwane, Gert Thys, Riaan Botha, Burger Lambrechts, Frantz Kruger, Elmarie Gerryts, Hestrie Storbeck, Johan Botha, Janus Robberts, Hendrik Ramaala, Andries Khulu, Abner Chipu, Elana Meyer, Colleen de Reuck.
Beach volleyball: Gershion Rorich, Andile Masinga.
Canoeing: Allan van Coller, Ruth Nortje.
Cycling: JP van Zyl.
Swimming: Ryk Neethling, Brendon Dedekind, Penny Heyns, Terence Perkins, Sarah Poewe, Theo Verster, Roland Schoeman, Brett Peterson, Julia Russell, Charlene Wittstock, Amanda Loots.
Boxing: Silence Mabuza, Zolani Marali, Phumzile Matyhila, Siphiwe Nongqayi.