SA athletics: Rising

Akani Simbine (20) Sprints 2012 Zone VI U-20 Games triple gold (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay) champion, SA junior 100m record holder, 2013 IAAF World Championships nalist Andre Olivier (23) middle/ long distance Reigning SA champion, 2012 Olympic Games nalist

Wayde van Niekerk (21) middle/long distance SA 400m champion, 2013 IAAF World Championships nalist

Monique Stander (18) middle/long distance SA 800m youth record holder, IAAF World Junior Championships nalist

Gena Lofstrand (17) middle/long distance Reigning SA 800m champion

Duwayne Boer (18) Jumps 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships nalist

Bianca Erwee (23) Jumps Current SA triple jump champion and record holder

Anaso Jobodwana (21) Sprints 2013 World Student Games 100m and 200m champion, 2012 Olympic Games nalist, 2013 IAAF World Championships nalist

Rorisang Ramonnye (23) Sprints Current SA 400m champion

Thapelo Madiba (20) middle/long distance 2012 SA Junior 800m, 1 500 champion, 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships

Jacques de Swardt (21) middle/long distance 2013 World Student Games nalist

Thato Makhafola (19) middle/long distance 2012 Zone VI U-20 Games 800m champion, IAAF World Junior Championships nalist

Mpho Maphutha (20) Jumps 2011 SA Junior long jump champion, 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships nalist

Albert Janki (19) Jumps 2011 SA triple jump champion, 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships silver medallist

Justine Palframan (20) Sprints 2013 IAAF World Championships nalist

LJ van Zyl (28) 400m hurdles First-round exits at this years World Championships and the 2012 Olympics spelt a slump for LJ, who had medalled at major events throughout his career since he became world junior champion in 2002. The SA 400m hurdles record holder (47.66) has not been the same since he suffered a hamstring injury in 2011. His last signicant success was a 400m hurdles bronze and 4x400m relay silver medal at the 2011 world champs
Compiled by: DANIEL MOTHOWAGAE

Lebo and Lebogang Phalula (30) middle/long distance The Phalula twins dominated local events but hardly made an impact on the international stage, particularly in the 10 IAAF World Cross-Country Championships they have participated in between them since 2005

Ruben Ramole (35) 3 000m steeplechase The multiple national champion and record holder has been to four world champs, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and two Olympics but has only a bronze to show from the 2006 African champs

Janice Josephs (31) heptathlon/ long jump Josephs has dominated the heptathlon and the jumps, and is one of a few athletes with national titles in more than one event. While she has been to the world junior and youth champs, the world indoor championships, two world champs and the Olympics, there is no major medal in her cabinet

Tebogo Masehla (34) 3 000m steeplechase Masehla is another force that has dominated locally, but made little impact in the three World Cross-Country Championships she has been to, as well as the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 world champs

Justine Robbeson (28) javelin The 2004 world junior heptathlon champion was tipped as the heir to Sunette Viljoens throne, but a loss of form and injury in the past three seasons contributed to her downward spiral

Robert Oosthuizen (26) javelin Another former world junior champ in the list, Oosthuizen was capable of posting heaves over the 80m mark but bombed out in the rst round in his last three world championships appearances. He has lacked sting since a shoulder injury and groin injuries kept him out over the past two and a half seasons

Ofentse Mogawane (31) 400m The 4x400m relay 2012 Olympics nalist and world champs silver medalist is ranked inside the top 10 of SAs 400m all-time best. Despite this, Mogawane has never lived up to the expectations of breaking the sub-45-minute mark

Zintle Xiniwe (27) long distance Xiniwe always made the times for the world half-marathon championships, but a lack of discipline stood in her way. She stirred up controversy in 2008 when she chose her club over Team SA for the global 21km championships in Brazil

Oscar Pistorius (26) 400m The Blade Runner has been the fastest runner over 400m in the past two seasons and even qualied for the 2011 world champs and the 2012 Olympics against able-bodied counterparts. He is facing a murder charge and, whatever the outcome of his criminal case, this would inevitably end what was an illustrious running career

and fading stars

RUDI LOUW, Graphics24