# South Africa at the 1920 Summer Olympics

The Union of South Africa competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. 39 competitors, 38 men and 1 woman, took part in 34 events in 7 sports.

## Medalists
### Gold

* Bevil Rudd — Athletics, Men's 400m
* Clarence Walker — Boxing, Bantamweight
* Louis Raymond — Tennis, Men's singles

### Silver

* Henry Dafel, Clarence Oldfield, Jack Oosterlaak and Bevil Rudd — Athletics, Men's 4 × 400 m relay
* Henry Kaltenbrunn — Cycling, Men's Individual Time Trial
* William Smith and James Walker — Cycling, Men's Tandem
* David Smith, Robert Bodley, Ferdinand Buchanan, George Harvey and Frederick Morgan — Shooting, Men's Team 600m military rifle

### Bronze

* Bevil Rudd — Athletics, Men's 800m
* James Walker, William Smith, Henry Kaltenbrun and Harry Goosen — Cycling, Men's Team pursuit
* Charles Winslow — Tennis, Men's singles

## Aquatics
### Swimming

A single swimmer represented South Africa in 1920. It was the nation's second appearance in the sport. Nash did not advance to the final in either event.
Ranks given are within the heat.

#### Women

| Swimmer | Event | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Swimmer | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Blanche Nash | 100 m free | Unknown | 5 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Blanche Nash | 300 m free | Unknown | 6 | did not advance | did not advance |

## Athletics

13 athletes represented South Africa in 1920. It was the nation's fourth appearance in athletics, a sport in which South Africa had competed each time the country had appeared at the Olympics. The team took three total medals, one of each color, with Rudd winning two on his own and being part of the relay that won the silver. It was the country's best result in athletics to date.
Ranks given are within the heat.
| Athlete | Event | Heats | Heats | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Jacobus Bukes | 100 m | 11.0 | 2 Q | 11.0 | 3 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Jacobus Bukes | 200 m | 23.4 | 3 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Henry Dafel | 400 m | 51.2 | 2 Q | 50.8 | 1 Q | 50.4 | 3 Q | 50.6 | 6 |
| Henry Dafel | 800 m | — | — | 1:59.2 | 3 Q | | 6 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Leonard Dixon | 100 m | | 3 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| James Doig | 800 m | — | — | 1:59.6 | 4 Q | 2:01.5 | 7 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Christian Gitsham | Marathon | — | — | — | — | — | — | did not finish | did not finish |
| Francis Irvine | 100 m | | 3 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Francis Irvine | 200 m | 23.3 | 3 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Francis Irvine | 400 m | 52.5 | 4 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Harold Jeppe | 110 m hurdles | — | — | | 3 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Cecil McMaster | 3 km walk | — | — | — | — | 13:48.5 | 2 Q | 13:23.6 | 4 |
| Cecil McMaster | 10 km walk | — | — | — | — | 51:39.0 | 2 Q | 50:04.0 | 4 |
| Clarence Oldfield | 400 m | 52.2 | 2 Q | 51.1 | 5 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Jack Oosterlaak | 100 m | 11.0 | 1 Q | 11.0 | 1 Q | | 4 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Jack Oosterlaak | 200 m | 23.2 | 2 Q | 23.0 | 1 Q | 22.7 | 3 Q | 22.4 | 6 |
| Leonard Richardson | Cross country | — | — | — | — | — | — | did not finish | did not finish |
| Bevil Rudd | 400 m | 51.6 | 1 Q | 51.3 | 2 Q | 49.7 | 2 Q | 49.6 | |
| Bevil Rudd | 800 m | — | — | 1:55.0 | 1 Q | 1:57.0 | 1 Q | 1:53.6 | |
| Adriaan "Attie" van Heerden | 400 m hurdles | — | — | did not finish | did not finish | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| Jacobus Bukes Henry Dafel Francis Irvine Jack Oosterlaak | 4 × 100 m relay | — | — | — | — | 44.4 | 3 | did not advance | did not advance |
| Henry Dafel Clarence Oldfield Jack Oosterlaak Bevil Rudd | 4 × 400 m relay | — | — | — | — | 3:38.6 | 1 Q | 3:23.0 | |

## Boxing

Seven boxers represented South Africa at the 1920 Games. It was the nation's debut in boxing. Walker won the nation's first Olympic boxing medal, a gold in the bantamweight.
| Boxer | Weight class | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final / Bronze match | Final / Bronze match |
| Boxer | Weight class | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank |
| Richard Beland | Lightweight | N/A | Grégoire (FRA) W | Van Muysen (BEL) W | Mosberg (USA) L | Newton (CAN) L | 4 |
| William Bradley | Middleweight | Bye | Hesterman (NED) W | Herscovitch (CAN) L | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Thomas Holdstock | Light heavyweight | N/A | Clementz (NOR) W | Eagan (USA) L | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Roy Ingram | Welterweight | Bye | Stokstad (NOR) L | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | 9 |
| Jim MacGregor | Light heavyweight | N/A | Schell (USA) L | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | 9 |
| Joseph Thomas | Welterweight | Bye | Schneider (CAN) L | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | 9 |
| Clarence Walker | Bantamweight | N/A | Bouwens (BEL) W | Hartman (USA) W | McKenzie (GBR) W | Graham (CAN) W | |
| Opponent nation | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Belgium | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Canada | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| France | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Great Britain | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Norway | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| United States | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Total | 8 | 7 | .533 |
| Round | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Round of 32 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Round of 16 | 4 | 3 | .571 |
| Quarterfinals | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| Semifinals | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Final | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Bronze match | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Total | 8 | 7 | .533 |

## Cycling

Five cyclists represented South Africa in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport. The South Africans took three medals, including silvers in the tandem (Smith and Walker) and individual time trial (by Kaltenbrun) and a bronze in the team pursuit. The team pursuit medal was awarded due to South Africa having the faster time of the two semifinal losers.

### Road cycling

| Cyclist | Event | Final | Final |
| Cyclist | Event | Result | Rank |
| Henry Kaltenbrunn | Time trial | 4:41:26.6 | |
| James Walker | Time trial | did not finish | did not finish |

### Track cycling

Ranks given are within the heat.
| Cyclist | Event | Heats | Heats | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Repechage semis | Repechage semis | Repechage final | Repechage final | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Cyclist | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Hendrik Goosen | Sprint | Unknown | 3 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| William Smith | Sprint | Unknown | 3 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| William Smith | 50 km | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Unknown | 7 |
| George Thursfield | Sprint | Unknown | 2 Q | 13.2 | 1 Q | Advanced directly | Advanced directly | Advanced directly | Advanced directly | 15.2 | 2 | did not advance | did not advance |
| James Walker | Sprint | 13.6 | 1 Q | 13.6 | 1 Q | Advanced directly | Advanced directly | Advanced directly | Advanced directly | 15.2 | 3 | did not advance | did not advance |
| James Walker | 50 km | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | did not finish | did not finish |
| Hendrik Goosen George Thursfield | Tandem | N/A | N/A | Unknown | 2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance |
| William Smith James Walker | Tandem | N/A | N/A | 13.0 | 1 Q | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 12.6 | 1 Q | Unknown | |
| Hendrik Goosen Henry Kaltenbrunn William Smith James Walker | Team pursuit | N/A | N/A | 5:21.0 | 1 Q | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 5:17.8 | 2 | Did not advance | |

## Shooting

Seven shooters represented South Africa in 1920. It was the nation's second appearance in the sport. South Africa won its first Olympic shooting medal, with the silver in the long-range team prone military rifle.
| Shooter | Event | Final | Final |
| Shooter | Event | Result | Rank |
| Robert Bodley | 50 m small-bore rifle | Unknown | Unknown |
| Robert Bodley | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | Unknown | Unknown |
| George Harvey | 50 m small-bore rifle | Unknown | Unknown |
| George Harvey | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | Unknown | Unknown |
| George Lishman | 50 m small-bore rifle | Unknown | Unknown |
| Fred Morgan | 50 m small-bore rifle | Unknown | Unknown |
| Fred Morgan | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | Unknown | Unknown |
| Mark Paxton | 50 m small-bore rifle | Unknown | Unknown |
| Mark Paxton | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | Unknown | Unknown |
| David Smith | 300 m free rifle, 3 pos. | Unknown | Unknown |
| Robert Bodley Ferdinand Buchanan George Harvey Fred Morgan David Smith | 600 m team military rifle, prone | 287 | |
| Robert Bodley Ferdinand Buchanan George Harvey Fred Morgan David Smith | 300 & 600 m team military rifle, prone | 560 | 5 |
| Robert Bodley Ferdinand Buchanan Fred Morgan Mark Paxton David Smith | 300 m team military rifle, standing | 233 | 9 |
| Robert Bodley George Harvey George Lishman Fred Morgan Mark Paxton | 50 m team small-bore rifle | 1755 | 8 |
| Robert Bodley George Harvey Fred Morgan Mark Paxton David Smith | Team free rifle | 4292 | 10 |
| Robert Bodley George Lishman Fred Morgan Mark Paxton David Smith | 300 m team military rifle, prone | 276 | 8 |

## Tennis

Five tennis players, all men, competed for South Africa in 1920. It was the nation's third appearance in the sport. Winslow, the defending gold medalist in the singles, fell to Ichiya Kumagae in the semifinals and finished with the bronze medal. Kumagae had also beaten Dodd in the quarterfinals. Raymond won the other semifinal, however, and then beat Kumagae to take the gold. Both men's doubles pairs lost in the quarterfinals.
| Player | Event | Round of 64 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | Rank |
| Player | Event | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank |
| George Dodd | Men's singles | Blanchy (FRA) W 2–6, 6–2, 6–1, 9–7 | Décugis (FRA) W 6–2, 6–1, 6–1 | Kashio (JPN) W 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1 | Kumagae (JPN) L 7–5, 6–1, 6–1 | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Brian Norton | Men's singles | Décugis (FRA) L 6–4, 12–10, 2–6, 8–6 | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | did not advance | 32 |
| Louis Raymond | Men's singles | Bye | van den Bemden (BEL) W 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 6–1 | Brugnon (FRA) W 3–6, 6–2, 6–0, 6–1 | Malström (SWE) W 6–3, 6–1, 6–1 | Turnbull (GBR) W 2–6, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–1 | Kumagae (JPN) W 5–7, 6–4, 7–5, 6–4 | |
| Charles Winslow | Men's singles | Bye | Samazeuilh (FRA) W 7–5, 2–6, 6–3, 6–2 | Washer (BEL) W 8–6, 6–4, 6–1 | Lowe (GBR) W 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 | Kumagae (JPN) L 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 | Turnbull (GBR) W | |
| Cecil Blackbeard George Dodd | Men's doubles | N/A | Beamish & Lowe (GBR) W 6–1, 10–8, 6–3 | Lawton & Samazeuilh (FRA) W 6–3, 6–0, 9–7 | Albarran & Décugis (FRA) L 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Brian Norton Louis Raymond | Men's doubles | N/A | J. Alonso & M. Alonso (ESP) W 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 | Ardelt & Žemla-Rázný (TCH) W 6–1, 6–4, 6–4 | Kashio & Kumagae (JPN) L 6–3, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Opponent nation | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Belgium | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Czechoslovakia | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| France | 5 | 2 | .714 |
| Great Britain | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Japan | 2 | 3 | .400 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Sweden | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Total | 16 | 5 | .762 |
| Round | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Round of 64 | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Round of 32 | 5 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Round of 16 | 5 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Quarterfinals | 2 | 3 | .400 |
| Semifinals | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Final | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Bronze match | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Total | 16 | 5 | .762 |

## Wrestling

A single wrestler competed for South Africa in 1920. It was the nation's debut in the sport. Hans J.J. van Rensburg was defeated in the quarterfinals of the freestyle light heavyweight.

### Freestyle

| Wrestler | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals / Bronze match | Rank |
| Hans van Rensburg | Light heavyweight | N/A | Snoeck (BEL) (W) | Courant (SUI) (L) | did not advance | did not advance | 5 |
| Opponent nation | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Belgium | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Round | Wins | Losses | Percent |
| Round of 32 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Round of 16 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Quarterfinals | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Semifinals | 0 | 0 | – |
| Final | 0 | 0 | – |
| Bronze match | 0 | 0 | – |
| Total | 1 | 1 | .500 |