Nicolene Cronje (born 16 June 1983 in Bellville, Western Cape) is a South African race walker.[1] She has been selected to compete for South Africa at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and holds numerous African championship titles and continental records in race walking (a distance of both 10 and 20 km).[2] Cronje also trains at Central Gauteng Athletics in Johannesburg.[3]

Nicolene Cronje
Personal information
Full nameNicolene Cronje
Nationality South Africa
Born (1983-06-16) 16 June 1983 (age 41)
Bellville, Western Cape,
South Africa
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight53 kg (117 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventRace walking
ClubCentral Gauteng Athletics
Achievements and titles
Personal best20 km walk: 1:36:19

Cronje established South African track and field history, when she became the first ever female race walker to be sent to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, competing in the 20 km walk. She achieved the IAAF B-standard and a personal best of 1:36:19, following her victory at the South African championships in Durban.[2][4] Cronje successfully finished the race with a forty-seventh place time in 1:42:37, just nearly thirteen seconds after the Greeks cheered on Athanasia Tsoumeleka's surprising triumph inside the Olympic stadium.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Nicolene Cronje". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b "South Africa selects 23 athletes in provisional Olympic squad". IAAF. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Four to represent SA at Walk Championship". South Africa: Independent Online. 28 April 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Four walk their way to World Cup in Germany". South Africa: Independent Online. 28 April 2004. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  5. ^ "IAAF Athens 2004: Women's 20km Race Walk". Athens 2004. IAAF. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  6. ^ Webb, Boyd; Evans, Jenni (31 August 2004). "Hugs for Olympic heroes". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
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