The
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa ( nl, Unie van Zuid-Afrika; af, Unie van Suid-Afrika; ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the Cape, Natal, Tran ...
competed at the
1956 Summer Olympics in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
,
Australia. 50 competitors, 44 men and 6 women, took part in 50 events in 10 sports.
Medalists
Bronze
*
Daniel Bekker — Boxing, Men's Heavyweight
*
Henry Loubscher — Boxing, Men's Light Welterweight
*
Alfred Swift
Alfred James Swift (25 June 1931 – 13 April 2009) was a South African Olympic athlete and cyclist.
Swift was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on 25 June 1931. He was awarded provincial colours for Natal (Kwazulu Natal) and th ...
— Cycling, Men's 1.000m Time Trial
*
Moira Abernethy,
Jeanette Myburgh,
Natalie Myburgh and
Susan Roberts — Swimming, Women's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay
Athletics
Men's 110m Hurdles
*
Danie Burger
:* Heat — 14.4s
:* Semifinals — 15.0s (→ did not advance)
Men's Marathon
*
Mercer Davis — 2:39:48 (→ 14th place)
*
Jan Barnard — did not finish (→ no ranking)
Men's Discus Throw
*
Fanie du Plessis
Stephanus ("Fanie") Johannes du Plessis (23 February 1930 – 13 August 2001) was a discus thrower and shot putter, who represented South Africa at two Summer Olympics in 1956 Summer Olympics, 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics, 1 ...
:* Qualifying Heat — 50.69
:* Final — 48.49 (→ 13th place)
Boxing
Cycling
;
Sprint
*
Thomas Shardelow
Thomas Shardelow (11 November 1931 – 3 July 2019) was a South African cyclist. He competed at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi ...
— 8th place
;
Time trial In many racing sports, an athlete (or occasionally a team of athletes) will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. The format of a time trial can vary, but usually follow a format where each athlete or team sets off at ...
*
Alfred Swift
Alfred James Swift (25 June 1931 – 13 April 2009) was a South African Olympic athlete and cyclist.
Swift was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on 25 June 1931. He was awarded provincial colours for Natal (Kwazulu Natal) and th ...
— 1:11.6 (→ Bronze Medal)
;
Tandem
Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction.
The original use of the term in English was in ''tandem harness'', which is used for two ...
*
Raymond RobinsonThomas Shardelow
Thomas Shardelow (11 November 1931 – 3 July 2019) was a South African cyclist. He competed at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi ...
— 7th place
;
Team pursuit
The team pursuit is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of up to four riders, compete, starting on opposite sides of the velodrome.
Race format
Both men's and women's events are competed over ...
*
Alfred Swift
Alfred James Swift (25 June 1931 – 13 April 2009) was a South African Olympic athlete and cyclist.
Swift was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on 25 June 1931. He was awarded provincial colours for Natal (Kwazulu Natal) and th ...
Anne Jan Hettema Charles JonkerRobert Fowler Robert Fowler may refer to:
* Robert Fowler (archbishop of Dublin) (1724–1801), bishop in the Church of Ireland
* Robert Fowler (artist) (1853–1926), English artist
* Robert Fowler (athlete) (1882–1957), American marathoner
* Robert Fowler (A ...
— 4:39.4 (→ 4th place)
;
Individual road race
*
Alfred Swift
Alfred James Swift (25 June 1931 – 13 April 2009) was a South African Olympic athlete and cyclist.
Swift was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on 25 June 1931. He was awarded provincial colours for Natal (Kwazulu Natal) and th ...
— did not finish (→ no ranking)
*
Robert Fowler Robert Fowler may refer to:
* Robert Fowler (archbishop of Dublin) (1724–1801), bishop in the Church of Ireland
* Robert Fowler (artist) (1853–1926), English artist
* Robert Fowler (athlete) (1882–1957), American marathoner
* Robert Fowler (A ...
— did not finish (→ no ranking)
*
Anne Jan Hettema — did not finish (→ no ranking)
*
Charles Jonker — did not finish (→ no ranking)
Gymnastics
Modern pentathlon
Three male pentathletes represented South Africa in 1956.
;Individual
*
Okkie van Greunen
*
Harry Schmidt Harry Schmidt may refer to:
* Harry Schmidt (USMC) (1886–1968), commanded the Fourth Marine Division in the Pacific during World War II
* Harry Schmidt (mathematician) (1894–1951), German applied mathematician
* Harry Schmidt (pentathlete) (191 ...
*
Marthinus du Plessis
Marthinus du Plessis (born 2 June 1932) is a South African modern pentathlete. He competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event hel ...
;Team
* Okkie van Greunen
* Harry Schmidt
* Marthinus du Plessis
Sailing
Shooting
Two shooters represented South Africa in 1956.
;
50 m rifle, three positions
*
Robin Lavine
;
50 m rifle, prone
*
Johannes Human
*
Robin Lavine
Swimming
Weightlifting
Wrestling
References
External links
Official Olympic ReportsInternational Olympic Committee results database
Nations at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956
Events
January
* January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan.
* January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim Elliot and Pete Fleming, ar ...
1956 in South African sport
{{1956-Olympic-stub