Any dream of Olympic success for the South African women’s hockey team will be now confined to improving the world ranking in the remaining games after they lost to Korea 3-0 at Elliniko Olympic Hockey Centre on Wednesday evening. Everything went wrong for Sue Webber’s women as they lost their third successive game.

United States teams have heard plenty of boos so far these Olympics, but mostly the sort reserved for any powerhouse playing an underdog. What hasn’t surfaced, US athletes and officials say, is any of the politically tinged anti-Americanism that was feared in the run-up to the Games.

Former Golden Lions Rugby Union CEO Johan Prinsloo was appointed on Wednesday as the managing director of SA Rugby. The South African Rugby Football Union executive and SA Rugby board confirmed the appointment last Friday. Prinsloo takes up the post with immediate effect.

Kirsty Coventry gave Zimbabwe a second Olympic swimming medal on Tuesday, and the teenager said she hopes her success will inspire people in the troubled African nation. The 19-year-old took bronze in the women’s 200m individual medley on Tuesday to go with the 100m backstroke silver she won the day earlier.

Swimming superstar Michael Phelps lifted the gloom surrounding the United States at the Olympics on Tuesday as Greek spirits soared after the host nation won their second gold medal of the Games. After 11 more gold medals were settled on day four, the US stood second in the table with six golds to China’s 10.

South African hopes will once again rest on the shoulders of relay gold medallists Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling, who have qualified for Wednesday night’s 100m freestyle final. Schoeman was in fighting form and led throughout his heat, making the turn in 22,66 seconds and touching the wall in 48,39 to beat Pieter van den Hoogenband from The Netherlands into second spot by 0,16.

England World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson came through his first game for eight months seemingly unscathed in Galway on Tuesday. Wilkinson made a 40 minute comeback appearance for his club Newcastle against Connacht in a pre-season friendly, kicking a penalty and making one trademark bone-crunching tackle.

A loss could not have been sweeter for South African archer Kirsten Lewis as she was knocked out of the last-16 round by fourth-ranked He Ying 156-142 at the Panathinaiko Stadium, situated at the foot of the Ardittou Hill near the National Gardens in Athens, on Wednesday morning.