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TOUGH OLYMPIC DEBUT: Giant-killer Chad le Clos Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images

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Since returning from isolation in 1992, SA's sports stars and fans have always had to wait at least a day to start their celebrations.

The earliest was the gold medal claimed by the men's 4x100m freestyle relay team on the second day in Athens 2004 the longest wait was 10 days at the last Games in Beijing where Khotso Mokoena won the nation's only medal of the Games.

Le Clos is one of five South Africans who will compete in medal competitions tomorrow - four swimmers and one cyclist.

Daryl Impey, who has just completed the Tour de France, has the unenviable task of competing single-handedly against fully-manned teams in the one-day road race. At least his female counterparts on Sunday will field three entrants.

Le Clos, Meaklim, Riaan Schoeman (all 400m individual medley) and Heerden Herman (men's 400m freestyle) all have theoretical shots at making the podium tomorrow, but of them, Le Clos and Meaklim have the best chances.

Both need to be among the eight fastest in the morning heats to qualify for the evening finals.

Before every Olympic Games there is an explosion of optimism, and it's been particularly easy to float away on brilliant dreams in vibrant London, which has been smooched by sunshine and temperatures topping 30°C.

But from today the weather forecaster is predicting dark clouds, rain and lower temperatures.

Likewise, many fantasies are about to be shattered.

Reality check: Le Clos is ranked 14th in the world right now with a time of 4min:13.86sec; Meaklim is 13th with 4:37.70. Both will need to slash at least four seconds off to get into medal range. That's a tall order, but not an impossible one.

Banyana Banyana got a premature dose of reality on Wednesday when they were beaten 4-1 by Sweden. Tomorrow they will know exactly what to expect against Canada, who lost their opener against Japan. That is a critical match, because defeat tomorrow will cull the competition hopes of the SA footballing women.

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Sun May 19 17:19:45 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 27, 2012

DJWinner

ha ha ha...last time only the jumping guy won something, our white people failed to swim faster. Let's hope people will make us proud this time.
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Jul 27, 2012

cornelius

@DJWinner, jir boet, what;s your problem, are you seriously wanting to turn this into a race issue ? Unbelievable !
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Jul 27, 2012

Julz

It's the Friendship games with sportspeople from around the world - Good luck to one and all! It will be enjoyable to watch such talent in all the different sporting disciplines
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Jul 27, 2012

HisnameisAstro!!!

I normally reserve my comments for light comments and fun engagements bt I had to weigh in here. @DJWinner, your comment was uncalled for and purely racist, couldn't you for on moment kept your racist remarks to yourself just for today?. I am a pure South African patriot and everybody who represent and hoist the flag in any event will get my support because they represent me(A blackman) regardless of the ethnicity or race. I look at the games and I never heard anybody saying white or black South African they call them South African cause that's what they are.
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Jul 27, 2012

DJWinner

How is it racist? Do black people swim? Isn't in swimming where we expect to get most medals? Isn't where all our hopes are? I said 'our white people', our people. I wonder how can this be seen racist. Anyway, it's your opinions.
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Jul 27, 2012

MAESTRO11

Oh the race cards again, shame. Good luck to our heroes, they must just work hard and leave this things of crossing fingers. Working hard can earn you gold.
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Jul 27, 2012

Shredder

@DJWinner - ha ha ha...last time only the jumping guy won something, our white people failed to swim faster. Let's hope people will make us proud this time.
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Chief, you are out of order.
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Jul 27, 2012

DJWinner

@Shredder...The problem with you people is that you are so uptight. I said you must explain to me your disapproval of my statement. I tried to illustrate...
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Jul 27, 2012

comtsotsi

I second you DJ,black people cant swim and are not very big fans of Water Sport or bathing in any case Period.
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Jul 27, 2012

Bodybuilder

The is nothing racist about you statement chief (DJwinner) as South African we need to celebrate our difference, did you see any black swimmer in the team? No. So it’s our white swimmer
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