SA rowing team doing well at Rio 2016

South Africa continued to do well at the 2016 Rio Olympic in the rowing as the three of the four boats qualified for the semi-finals.

The success came through James Thompson and John Smith who captured their lightweight men's double sculls heat.

Kirsten McCann and Ursula Grobler also won their double sculls heat and Lee-Ann Persse and Kate Christowitz finishing second in their pairs heat.

It’s only the foursome team of David Hunt, Jonathan Smith, Vincent Breet and Jake Green that failed to reach the semi-finals.

"We hit a wave coming from the side at the wrong time. It rocked the boat over and we and we missed our stroke and it threw our rhythm and with 200 meters left we didn't have time to recover properly," says Hunt.

As it is Women's Day in South Africa on Tuesday and there is a woman flying the South African flag high at the Olympics games.

Aimee Barrett will be one of the referees officiating in the rugby sevens competition.

Lawrence Brittain and Shaun Keeling will be in action later on Tuesday in the rowing male pairs semi-final.

Banyana Banyana will play the third and final match of the Olympics against Brazil after being knocked out of the competition against China in their second match of the games.

Meanwhile South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam earlier congratulated Cameron van der Burgh for winning silver in the 100 meters breaststroke on day three of the games.

"To get a start at the Olympics is very important because it is so crucial to get to the table where the medals are being displayed so we can say we are there and it makes it easier for the others to follow,” says Sam.

Earlier Chad Le Clos claimed South Africa's second medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The 24 year old touched in one minute 45.20 seconds in the 100 metres free style.

Le Clos grabbed the country's second silver medal a day after compatriot Cameron van der Burgh also came second in the 100 meters breaststroke.

Chad le Clos had qualified seventh fastest for the final, sneaking his way into lane one.

Known as the butterfly specialist, it was highly anticipated how the 24 year old would do in this event.

He showed his determination for a podium finish when he began the race with a blistering pace and within the world record split in the first 100 meters.

China's Sun Yang finally caught up with Le clos in the final stretch to win gold in one minute 44. 65 seconds.

Conor Dwyer of the United States won bronze.

Le Clos was ecstatic about his performance as he also qualified for the 200 meters butterfly final.

Le Clos will be back in the pool for the 200 meters butterfly final.