South Africa at the 2010 Winter Olympics

South Africa sent a delegation to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 12–28 February 2010. The South African team consisted of two athletes in two sports: alpine skier Peter Scott and cross-country skier Oliver Kraas. Neither of the South African athletes won a medal.

The athletes entering the stadium during the opening ceremonies.

South Africa at the 2010 Winter Olympics
IOC code	RSA
NOC	South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee
Website	www.sascoc.co.za
in Vancouver
Competitors	2 in 2 sports
Flag bearer	Oliver Kraas
Medals	Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 0
Winter Olympics appearances (overview)
1960 1964–1992 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022

Background

South Africa first entered Olympic competition at the 1904 St. Louis Summer Olympics. They made their debut at a Winter Olympic Games in the 1960 Winter Olympics.^[1] From 1964 until 1991, South Africa was banned from the Olympics due to its practice of Apartheid.^[2] South Africa was reinstated by the International Olympic Committee in 1991 following the end of Apartheid.^[3] They returned to the Olympics for the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1994 Winter Olympics.^[1] The nation competed in every Winter Olympics from 1994 to these Vancouver Olympics in 2010.^[1] The South African team consisted of two athletes; alpine skier Peter Scott and cross-country skier Oliver Kraas.^[4] Krass was chosen as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony, while Alex Heath, a team coach, was chosen for the closing ceremony.^[5][6]

Alpine skiing

Main article: Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics

South Africa qualified one entrant in alpine skiing.^[7] That entrant, Peter Scott, was 19 years old at the time of the Vancouver Olympics.^[8] In the men's giant slalom, held on 23 February, he failed to finish the first leg of the race.^[9] His failure to finish was caused by leaving the starting gate too early, and then attempting to walk back up a "few meters".^[10] Samir Azzimani, a fellow competitor, said Scott was disqualified, though the official records list him as a did not finish.^[10]

Athlete	Event	Run 1	Run 2	Total	Rank
Peter Scott	Men's giant slalom	DNF	did not advance

Cross-country skiing

Main article: Cross-country skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics

South Africa qualified one entrant in cross-country skiing,^[7] Oliver Kraas, who was 34 at the time of the Games.^[11] In his event, the men's sprint, he posted a time of 4 minutes and 4 seconds in the qualifying round, which placed him in 61st position.^[12] As only the top 30 competitors advanced to the event's next stage, he was eliminated.^[12]

Athlete	Event	Qualifying		Quarterfinals		Semifinals		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Oliver Kraas	Sprint	4:04.19	61	did not advance

References

1. "South Africa". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
2. "1964: South Africa banned from Olympics". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 19 November 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
3. Myers, Morley (9 July 1991). "South Africa returns to Olympics". United Press International. Archived from the original on 3 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
4. "South Africa at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
5. "Complete list of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic flag-bearers". The Vancouver Sun. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
6. "The Flagbearers for the Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 28 February 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
7. "Summary of Quota Allocation" (PDF). International Ski Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
8. "Peter Scott Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
9. "Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's Giant Slalom Run 1". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
10. "Alpine skiing: South African too fast for his own good". Reuters. 24 February 2010. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
11. "Oliver Kraas Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
12. "Cross Country Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's Sprint Qualifying Round". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.