Simbine, Rooskrantz named Team SA's flag bearers for Paris Olympics

SA sprinter Akani Simbine and gymnast Caitlin Rooskrantz will carry the South African flag at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.

On Tuesday, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) confirmed the country's co-flag bearers for this year's Olympics and Paralympics during the send-off gala dinner held at Emperor's Palace in Kempton Park.

Simbine, competing in his third Olympic Games, is one of Team South Africa's medal prospects in Paris as he looks to compete in the 100m and 4x100m relay.

The 30-year-old is looking for his first Olympic podium after reaching the final of the men's 100m at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games, where he finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Rooskrantz, marking her second Olympic appearance, has made history as the first gymnast to be named a flag bearer - an honour she considers the pinnacle of her career. 

"I feel super excited and super proud - it's definitely something I would not have dreamed about," said Rooskrantz, who will compete in all apparatus in the artistic gymnastics competition.

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"But I am super excited nonetheless, and I'm excited to represent South Africa as a whole and lead us into this Olympic Games."

Meanwhile, track star Mpumelelo Mhlongo and swimmer Kat Swanepoel will be SA's flag bearers for the Paris Paralympics, when the Games kick off on 28 August.

Sascoc president Barry Hendricks wished the Team SA athletes well as they look to better their performances from Tokyo.

"The last Olympics and Paralympics were held in 2021, postponed a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They were held in an understandably and necessarily confined environment, but you can