As it happened: Rio Olympics - Day 8

ATHLETICS

South African pair Alyssa Conley and Carina Horn compete in the women's 100-metre heats. The former doesn't graduate to the semi-finals, the latter does. Conley's time is 11:57, while Horn finishes in 11:32.

SWIMMING

South Africa's Brad Tandy fails to gain a medal in the men's 50-metre freestyle. His time of 21:79 only brings a second-last finish. The United States' Anthony Ervin, Nathan Adrian and France's Florent Manaudou take gold, bronze and silver, respectively.

SWIMMING

Chad Le Clos up next, in the men's 100m butterfly. As always, it's all eyes on le Clos versus the record-breaking Michael Phelps. The South African, in lane five, isn't in the top three at the 50-metre mark, and gratefully recovers to second for SILVER! It's a three-way tie for second, actually, as Phelps and Cseh of Hungary take silver, too. Singapore's James Schooling takes gold.

ATHLETICS

Much anticipation across South Africa, as Wayde van Niekerk takes to the track for the men's 400-metre heat. He leads from start to finish, winning comfortably, in an almost irrelevant time of 45.26.

ATHLETICS

South Africa's Lebogang Shange and Wayne Snyman finish in 44th and 58th position, respectively, in the men's 20-kilometre walk race. Shange completes his campaign in a creditable 1:25;07, while Snyman's time is 1:29;20. Only 63 of the 141 starters finish the gruelling competition, with more than half the field sidelined by attrition or disqualification. Wang Zhen clinches gold with a time of 1:19:14, while countryman Cai Zelin takes silver. Dane Bird-Smith of Australia secures bronze. Great Britain's Tom Bosworth led for much of the race before fading to sixth spot, while the in-form Caio Bonfim records a Brazilian record - 1:19;42 - in finishing fourth.

SWIMMING

The second and final heat of the men's four x100-metre medley relay ends with the South African team seventh in a time of 3:35;50. That's 13th overall - and not enough for qualification to the final.

SWIMMING

Mere minutes away from the second heat of the men's four x100-metre medley relay, where South Africa's awesome foursome among the favourites.

ATHLETICS

Lebogang Shange and Wayne Snyman, from South Africa, are currently involved in the men's 20-kilometre walk final. Neither are in contention for a medal as the race nears a close, but there is plenty of pride on the line.

SWIMMING

SA's Matthew Meyer puts in a valiant effort, but comes a mere seventh, with a time of 15:36;22, in his 1,500-metre freestyle heat. That knocks him out of medal contention.

GOLF

So concludes a dreadful day for Jaco van Zyl and Brandon Stone. The former ends three over par and the latter five. Australia's Marcus Fraser maintains the lead with a remarkable 10 under.

ATHLETICS

South Africa's Dominique Scott finishes 21st in the women's 10,000-metre race. Flanked by Japan's Hanami Sekine and Canada's Natasha Wodak, Scott manages a personal best of 31:51;47. Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana wins gold with a world record time of 29:17;45. She takes more than 14 seconds off China's Wang Junxia historic feat in 1993. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya and 2008 and 2012 champion Tirunesh Dibaba clinch silver and bronze, respectively. Cheruiyot's time of 29:32;53 weighs in as a Kenyan record.

GOLF

Jaco van Zyl and Brandon Stone not loving life out on the course, currently mid- to bottom-field with one and five over par, respectively.

ROWING

The men's four final saw sees David Hunt, Jonty Smith, Vince Breet and Jake Green come fourth, too, with a time of 6:05;80. They maintain third spot for the bulk of the race, but fail to stave off a late charge from Italians Giuseppe Vicino, Matteo Castaldo, Matteo Lodo and Domenico Montrone, who take bronze. Great Britain's Alex Gregory, Constantine Louloudis, Mohamed Sbihi and George Nash secure gold, while Australia's Josh Dunkley-Smith, William Lockwood, Josh Booth and Alexander Hill snare silver.

ROWING

South Africa's medal-less day with the oars continues, as Lee-Ann Persee and Kate Christowitz are nowhere in the women's pair final. They occupy last position at the halfway mark - and only recover to fifth in the six-boat race. Gold for Great Britain. Silver for New Zealand. Bronze for Denmark.

ROWING

James Thompson and John Smith, unfortunately, come fourth in the men's lightweight double sculls final. So no medal for South Africa there, too. France take gold, Ireland silver and Norway bronze.

ROWING

McCann and Grobler start well, leading at the halfway mark, but fad badly for a second-last place finish in the women's lightweight double sculls. Netherlands take gold, Canada silver and China bronze.

ROWING

Plenty of it coming up over the next hour or so. First up, it's the women's lightweight double sculls final for Kirsty McCann and Ursula Grobler. Then the men's lightweight double sculls final with James Thompson and John Smith. Thereafter, the women's pair final, featuring Lee-Ann Persee and Kate Christowitz. Finally, the men's four final, with David Hunt, Jonty Smith, Vince Breet and Jake Green raring to go.

GOLF

Jaco van Zyl and Brandon Stone are back underway. The former dropped a shot initially, but has now levelled with a fine birdie.

WHO'S IN ACTION - AND WHEN

A list of South Africans in competition at the Olympic Games on Friday.

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT...

The horrid looking golf bags the SA golfers (or their caddies) have to lug around!

BETTER DAY ON THE LINKS?

Here's hoping the two SA golfers have better fortunes in Round 2.

Jaco van Zyl opened with a level-ar round of 71, while Brandon Stone finished on 4-over par

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER GOLD FOR MICHAEL PHELPS?

Could well be gold #23 for the USA swimming superstar in the final of the 100m butterfly at 03:12 (SA time).

Don't bet against him!

WELCOME

LIVE and interactive commentary from Day 8 - Friday, August 12 - of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games