Here at Lifta, we are so excited that South Africa will be participating in the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris! We have 13 incredible paralympians competing in 6 sports including athletics, boccia, cycling, equestrian, swimming, and wheelchair tennis.
These athletes have qualified for events based on their performances at the 2023 World Championships, 2024 World Championships, and other qualifying competitions.
Here is how our athletes performed during the 2020 Summer Paralympics:
| Medal | Name | Sport | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Anrune Weyers | Athletics | Women’s 400 metres T47 | 28 August |
| Gold | Ntando Mahlangu | Athletics | Men’s long jump T63 | 28 August |
| Gold | Nicolas Pieter du Preez | Cycling | Men’s road time trial H1 | 31 August |
| Gold | Ntando Mahlangu | Athletics | Men’s 200 metres T61 | 3 September |
| Silver | Louzanne Coetzee | Athletics | Women’s 1500 metres T11 | 30 August |
| Bronze | Sheryl James | Athletics | Women’s 400 metres T37 | 31 August |
| Bronze | Louzanne Coetzee | Athletics | Women’s marathon T12 | 5 September |
Let’s have a look at three of our favourite local Paralympians who are known for their exceptional skill, dedication to their craft, and above all, their unwavering determination and resilience.
Ntando Mahlangu
Ntando Mahlangu is one of our star athletes renowned for competing in T61 sprinting events. He was born on the 26 January 2002 with fibular hemimelia which meant that his legs didn’t fully develop below his knees and as a result, he spent most of his early childhood in a wheelchair.
In 2012 a decision was taken to amputate both of his legs at the knee but later that year he received his first set of blades from the charity Jumping Kids, and he has never looked back!
Four years later, aged 14, he was one of the youngest competitors at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and his performance was spectacular! Ntando won silver in the men’s 200m T42 and set a new African record (23.77) in the process. He has continued to excel, securing gold in the 200m T61 at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and setting a world record.
Ntando is one of the nine Paralympians featured in the Netflix documentary ‘Rising Phoenix’.
Anrune Weyers
Anrune Weyers was born on November 3, 1992. Despite being born with a congenital defect in her left arm, she emerged as a formidable para-athlete, specialising in the T47 disability class. Her journey in athletics started in 2010 when she discovered her passion for running.
Her international career kicked off at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships where she won silver in the 400m and came sixth in the 200m. According to her, the moment that stands out for her was the 2012 London Paralympics, where she clinched silver in the 400m and bronze in the 200m.
She went on to win the 400m at the 2015 IPC World Championships and later in the 2016 Rio Paralympics; she won silver medals in both the 200m and 400m races. Her remarkable performance continued at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, where she claimed gold in the 400m, silver in the 200m, and bronze in the 100m, setting a world record of 55.60 seconds in the 400m.
Anrune’s success reached new heights at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, where she won gold in the 400m T47 event, achieving a season’s best time of 56.05 seconds. Her journey from facing bullying due to her disability to becoming a world-class athlete reflects her resilience and determination.
Louzanne Coetzee
Born blind due to Leber congenital amaurosis, a hereditary condition, Louzanne is a para-athlete who competes in the T11 disability class, designed for athletes with the most severe visual impairment.
In 2017, she shattered the world record for the 5000m (women) in her disability category. Notably, in April 2018, she made history as the first visually impaired athlete to participate in the World University Cross Country Championships held in Switzerland.
In the 2021 Paralympics held in Tokyo, Louzanne won the silver medal in the 1500m final, setting a new African record with a time of 4:40.96. She also won the bronze medal in the T12 women’s marathon, achieving a new T11 world record time of 3:11:13.
Conclusion
We massively admire paralympians for their unwavering tenacity, perseverance, and extraordinary ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. They teach us that true strength is not about having no limitations, but it is in the courage to face them in order to achieve their goals.
Let’s go, South Africa, we’ll be cheering on with pride from the sidelines!
