page_title: South Africa at the 2012 Summer Olympics
section_title: Athletics
hierarchical_section_title: South Africa at the 2012 Summer Olympics / Athletics
caption_attribution_description: Oscar Pistorius in 400m semi
context_page_description: South Africa competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This was the nation's eighteenth participation overall and sixth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics in the post-apartheid era. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee sent a total of 125 athletes to the Games, 67 men and 58 women, to compete in 17 sports. Field hockey and women's football were the only team-based sports in which South Africa were representation at these Olympic games. There was only a single competitor in archery, BMX cycling, judo, shooting and weightlifting.
  Notable South African athletes included track stars Oscar Pistorius and Caster Semenya. Pistorius, a four-time Paralympic champion, set South Africa's historical record as the first double-leg amputee to compete at the Olympics. Semenya, a middle-distance runner and a world champion who had been subjected to gender testing in 2009, became the nation's flag bearer at the opening ceremony.
context_section_description: South African athletes have entered the following events:
  Key
  Note – Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  Q = Qualified for the next round
  q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  NR = National record
  N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
  Men
  Ofentse Mogawane was injured in a crash during the first heat of the 4 × 400 m relay. On appeal, South Africa was entered into the final with Louis van Zyl replacing Mogawane. Oscar Pistorius made Olympic history, becoming the first double leg amputee ever to participate in the Olympic Games.
  Track & road events
  * Allowed into final on appeal
  Field events
  Combined events – Decathlon
  Women
  Track & road events
  Field events
caption: Oscar Pistorius becomes the first double leg amputee to compete at the Olympics.
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