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NATION'S HOPE: SA 800m sensation Caster Semenya. Photo: Gallo Images

200M DEFENDER: Jamaica's Usain Bolt

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Caster Semenya swings into action today in the 800m heats, but the real historic moment will come tomorrow night - when Usain Bolt will attempt to become the first man to retain the Olympic 200m crown.

A win means he would also be the first man to retain the 100m and 200m double.

Carl Lewis defended his 100m crown in 1988, but took silver in the 200m.

Tomorrow, SA has no fewer than two medal hopes in Bridgitte Hartley in the women's K1500m kayak sprint, and Sunette Viljoen in the women's javelin.

Semenya is scheduled to compete in the semifinals.

Friday sees Troy Prinsloo in action in the men's 10km open water swim, while Sifiso Nhlapo is looking for belated silverware in the BMX, having crashed off his bike in the final in Beijing four years ago.

Bolt returns to action on Saturday, this time in the 4x100m relay final. Jamaica will be overwhelming favourites to retain the title.

Semenya will hopefully be in the women's 800m final, which promises to be a tough race.

The field is likely to include defending champion Pamela Jelimo of Kenya, Ethiopian newcomer Fantu Magiso and Russia's world champion Mariya Savinova - and there are a few other runners capable of winning this contest. For British fans, the race of the night could be the men's 5000m.

The men's marathon brings the curtain down on the Olympics on Sunday, but only just. The first mountain bike racer will likely finish about 20 minutes before the marathon victor does. SA is well represented in both races, but the odds are better that SA will get a cycling medal, courtesy of Burry Stander.

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Sun May 19 21:23:21 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 8, 2012

LostGuy

Good Luck girl go show them...
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Aug 8, 2012

sarmologadi

All the best my homie...do SA proud...we are behind you
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Aug 8, 2012

Chichi7

Good luck and we are proud of you
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Aug 8, 2012

Chichi7

Caster Semenya swings into action today in the 800m heats, but the real historic moment will come tomorrow night - when Usain Bolt will attempt to become the first man to retain the Olympic 200m crown.
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Thank you Sowetan for the deafening applaud for our own runner. Amazed at the many words you have written for Caster and am sure when she reads this article, she will be humbled by the support.

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Aug 8, 2012

tpaz

This London Olympics is tough. I support you Caster but a medal? If you make it to the final i will be happy.
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Aug 8, 2012

Firstborn

I wish you all the best Caster!!!
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Aug 8, 2012

MommaC

Haai sies.
What about our own Anaso Jobodwana who qualified for the 200m in spectacular form? Bugger Bolt, I know who I'll be shouting for.

All of our athletes are doing a great job out there. Not a single one of them has been anything but spectacular. Hopefully there are a couple more medals in this for us but, even if there isn't, we should be so very proud of them all
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Aug 8, 2012

kabubu

SHOW THEM CASTER.

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Aug 8, 2012

Voetzek

You mahules let me once and for all see your good comment about Limpopian caster, not always witch witch witch
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Aug 8, 2012

sh!tFaceSamsung

is gone be tough for semenya :
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