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Up Close with Olympian Dieter Rosslee

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Today I would like to honour one SA’s brilliant young rowing stars –  Dieter Rosslee. He was proudly part of Team SA at this year’s Rio Paralympics as part of the LTA Mixed Cox 4 Rowing Team. They have done brilliantly leading up to Rio.Even in Rio their fight and resilience was amazing, he explains it below.

Of course this type of excellence does not happen in isolation and without brilliant coaching. The other members are Lucy Perold, Sandra Khumalo, Shannon Murray  Dylan Trollope, Dieter Rosslee, Willie Morgan (Coxwain). They train under the watchful, loving  eye of Coach Marco Galeone.

About himself he says “Passionate, Adventurous, Caring. I keep to myself when it comes to everyday life. I hate making things inconvenient for others . I would rather struggle on my own and get frustrated than ask for help“. 

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Athlete: Bio / Stats

Name & Surname Dieter Rosslee
Nick Name Diets
Date of birth 12 June 1995
Place of birth Alberton
Current City Alberton
Height 187cm
Weight 83kg
Shoe Size 10/11
Club University of Johannesburg Rowing Club
Coach’s Name Marco Galeone
Out of Country events/ meets (most recent) 2016- (April) Gavirate(Italy) International Para Rowing Regatta

(June) Poznan (Poland) World Cup 3

Favorite City St Lucia … but Out of Country=Amsterdam…
Favorite Song/ type of music Any good music (not pop)
Favorite Movie The Godfather
Tertiary Inst Name/ Year University of Johannesburg/ 1st year academically , 3rd year historically
Tertiary degree/ diploma BSc (Science) Physics
Sponsors None
Twitter and Instagram names, facebook name dieter_rosslee (Instagram). Dieter Rosslee (facebook)
Parents Names, siblings Diederick(father), Delouise(mother),

Dialise(sister), Dalita(sister), Dian(brother)

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INTERVIEW:

Before Olympics:

Q: Firstly congrats on qualifying for Rio Olympics ! What is on your heart and mind right now concerning this qualification?

Thank you, first our main goal was to qualify the boat for the Rio games. After this the focus was to stay in the boat that would go on to compete at The Games. Now I am aiming for a medal position at the Paralympics.

After Olympics:

Once we got there the vibe was amazing. We didn’t really explore the village that much before competition, we just knew of the places we had to be most.

The dining hall was massive , I’ve never seen so much food, cold drinks and people in one place.
Our venue was exceptional as well to be rowing on the water and seeing Christ the Redeemer… Wow. Not everyone can say they saw him everyday for 2 weeks.

Things were going pretty well for us with last minute preparations. The night before racing the nerves started to kick in , I could handle it quite well as we have done a lot of international races over the years…. Although it was a greater deal …this was it … What we have been working for .

We were mentally prepared for the racing and knew what we had to do in the heat in Friday. Although it didn’t work out as we wanted to , we were still satisfied with our performance.

On the Saturday we had to race the Repechage … It was one of the toughest races I’ve done other than the final… Because that race was the decider for the A-final. My nerves were crazy. We had the tougher Repechage … We had to come at least 2nd , the fight for second place was between us and Australia right til the end. They were ahead of us for the first 750m and then we just passed them the last bit… The leg burn was real .
But the reward was great… The first African team to have made a Paralympic Rowing A-final…

The Sunday was the big race … We were up against all the Giants… Conditions weren’t great at all… But this is what we trained for in SA… We were familiar with the conditions. Unfortunately the other crews were just faster … And we came 5th… We are still happy with our performance.

The country itself was amazing after racing was done we had a lot of time to do some sight seeing.

I would definitely want to do another Paralympics!

 

Q: You are one of SA’s top athletes, passionate and doing so well in your Rowing tell me a little bit about how you started in rowing and your journey in the rowing arena up to now?

Well, I have also been encouraged by my parents to be active, since I had the accident at the age of 5. So I tried athletics and I played field hockey for a while in Primary school and High school. Then I think in 2010 someone told me to go for Para Rowing Classifications, and my parents told me I should at least just see what it is. The classifiers then told me that I am eligible to row in the LTA category, and that I had a lot of potential in the sport because of my body structure. During my learning period of rowing , I only rowed in a single for about two years . I then started training with the SA Para Rowing squad of that time. In 2013 Coach Marco Galeone approached me and said that I will have to train in the boat combination that will go on to compete at the 2013 World Rowing Championships. As a young boy I was quite scared and nervous , but with the support from my team, coach and of course my family I was able to get to the standard the expected from me in a short period of time and here we went on to obtain the Bronze. Since then I have competed internationally every year – 2014 Gavirate International Para Rowing Regatta , 2014 Word Rowing Champs, Amsterdam , 2015 Gavirate International Para Rowing Regatta, 2015 World Rowing Championships, France.

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Q: Why do you have such deep seated respect for your coach?

My coach Marco Galeone has so much knowledge with rowing, as he has been around rowing for a very long time. He like my second father, he cares for us in more ways than one can think a coach does. He invests so much of his time for us, to make us succeed in rowing, and life.

Q: What do you do to relax?

I listen to music, watch series or movies and spend time with my family

Q: What is your personal favourite motivational quote?

“Never be ashamed of a scar. It means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you”

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Q: What is your definition of greatness?

Living life to the fullest

Q: What’s your WHY ?  

Basically to show that nothing is impossible. To encourage young even elderly people that no matter how many times life knocks you down, shake it off and keep on going.

Q: One thing about you that the world does not know J

I sometimes take off my prosthetic leg at parties dance with it in my hand (in the air). And I can be quite the charmer.

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Thank you so much for taking this interview. We would like to wish you all the best for your journey ahead. We look forward to following you as you go from strength to strength. Blessings!

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NB – All images were supplied by the athlete to Heslop Sports. If there are any images that are not credited correctly, please email info@heslopsports.co.za with the details and we will gladly do so immediately.

Home Olympics 2016 Rio Paralympics Sports

Team SA it’s Rio 17 Sept 2016

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17 September 2016

MEDALS: 17

 Gold: 7

Kevin Paul – Swimming

Hilton Langenhoven – Athletics

Charl du Toit – Athletics

Ernst van Dyk – Cycling

Reinhardt Hamman – Athletics

Charl du Toit – Athletics

Dyan Buis – Athletics

Silver: 6

Ilse Hayes – Athletics

Ntando Mahlangu – Athletics

Anrune Liebenberg – Athletics

Jonathan Ntutu – Athletics

Ilse Hayes – Athletics

Hilton Langenhoven – Athletics

Bronze 4

Fanie van der Merwe – Athletics

Tyrone Pillay – Athletics

Zanele Situ – Athletics

Dyan Buis – Athletics

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Buis strikes Gold, while Langehoven brings home Silver

Dyan Buis won Team SA’s 7th Gold medal in the men’s 400m T38, with a new Paralympic record in a time of 49.46s, while Hilton Langenhoven claimed Silver in the men’s 200m with a time of 22.43 (Full report to follow)

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Hayes makes it medal No15 for Team SA in Rio

By Mark Etheridge

 

Ilse Hayes followed in the footsteps of Charl du Toit on Saturday to become Team South Africa’s second double medallist at the Rio Paralympics.

After Du Toit had done the double by winning the T37 100 and 400-metre events it was Hayes who added to her T13 100m silver by grabbing silver in the one-lapper.

Winner was France’s Nantenin Keita in 55.78 and Hayes clocked 56.49.

Beaten she may have been but Stellenbosch’s star at least had the satisfaction of beating the woman who had won gold in the 100m, Ukraine’s Leilia Adzhametova (56.60 in third).

‘Yes the 400m wasn’t my main event but I gave it my best. I got a bronze in Athens (2004) so this is better.

‘Obviously my main event was the 100m so my strategy was to go conservatively to begin with. I gave it all for the last 100m but at least I still ended up with my second best time. The competition was very strong this year.

’This is my last Paralympics and I just have to say thanks to God for my talent etc. The silver in the 100m was the cherry on the cake for me as I didn’t train too much for the 400m. But IPC World Championships in London next year have a 100 and 200 so I’ll focus on that.

‘All thanks to a great journey with by coach Suzanne Ferreira and my husband [Cassie] my parent and by training group.’

Hayes’ medal, her seventh in her Paralympic journey, takes Team SA’s medal tally to 15 with just one day to go.

That places the team 22nd on the medals table on Saturday with Nigeria and Tunisia ahead of them.

In swimming, Alan Ferreira was the final South African swimmer in action, in her fifth and final event. She ended seventh in her heat, in 1:24.60 and failed to make the final.

In cycling, Dane Wilson ended 21st in the C4-5 road race in 2:38.50.

Picture of Hayes courtesy of Wessel Oosthuizen/SASPA

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Three codes chase Rio glory for Team SA on Saturday

By Mark Etheridge

Just two days of competition remain for Team South Africa’s medal chase at the Rio Paralympics.

And Saturday will see the team in action in three codes: aquatics, athletics and cycling.

They start the day with 14 medals already locked away in the war chest (six gold, four silver and four bronze) and in 22nd spot on the medals table.

Four years ago, the team brought back 29 medals from London but it must be said that a number of multiple medal winners are no longer part of the equation.

Swimming has Paralympic debutant Alani Ferreira swimming her fifth and final event, the 100m backstroke (S9) and the Pietermaritzburg teenager has lapped up the experience and you can bet your bottom dollar she’s already targeting Tokyo in four years time.

Athletics is an all-finals day with Zanele Situ, the veteran of the team at 45, in search of a second medal – this time in the F55 discus after having won bronze in the javelin.

Ilse Hayes (T13 400m), Dyan Buis (T38 400m), Hilton Langenhoven and Ndodomzi Ntutu (both T12 400m) are also all in search of their second medal of the games while Mpumi Mhlongo (a debutant in Rio) lines up for his second event, the long jump (F44) after having competed in the sprints earlier in the Games.

And in cycling Dane Wilson, more at home on the track, takes on the men’s road race in the C4- 5 class.

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SUPERSPORT Coverage

SuperSport will broadcast two 24-hour channels (SS13 and SS14) in High Definition for the duration of the Games with producers choosing the best of four feeds from Olympic Broadcast Services. What isn’t broadcast live will be broadcast on a delayed basis.

The popular Blitz channel will carry regular Paralympic news items, while the two TV channels will be available via streaming via www.supersport.com and the SuperSport and DStv Now apps, as well as social platforms and DStv Catch Up.

Daily two-hour highlights packages will be scheduled on SS Select and SS9.

 

TEAM SA APP for Paralympics.

Following on from the Olympic Games, Team SA has its own App for all South African sports supporters wanting to follow Team SA athletes at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Loads of information can be found on the very easy to navigate App, bringing you results, competition schedules, athlete profiles, images and videos of the athletes plus more.

The App is free, users can download the App and it’s available globally. https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/teamsarise/id1133481695?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…

Support your team and keep up to date on daily sporting events in Rio with #TeamSArise mobile.

 

Results from Saturday 17 September 2016

SWIMMING:

Heats:

Alani Ferreira – 100m Backstroke S13 (finished 7th in a time of 1:24.60 and did not qualify for the finals)

ATHLETICS:

Zanele Situ – Discus F55 (finished 10th with a PB throw of 14.96m) Ilse Hayes – 400m T13 (SILVER medal with a time of 56.49)

Ndodomzi Ntutu 200m T12 (semi finals – finished 3rd in a time of 22.87 SB, however did not qualify for the finals)

Dyan Buis – 400m T38 (GOLD with a new Paralympic record in a time of 49.46)

Mpumulelo Mhlongo Long Jump T44 (finishes in 6th place with a Personal best jump of 6.79m) Hilton Langenhoven 200m T12 (SILVER medal with a time of 22.43)

CYCLING:

2.30pm Dane Wilson – Men’s road race C4-5 (finished 21st, in a time of 2:38.50)

 

Athletes in action on Sunday 18 September 2016

(All times listed below are for South Africa)

CYCLING:

5.30pm Ernst van Dyk – Marathon T54 (final)

8.18pm Ernst van Dyk – Marathon T54 (potential medal presentation)

 

 

Source: Sascoc

Home Olympics 2016 Rio Paralympics Sports

Team SA it’s Rio 16 Sept 2016

Published by:

16 September 2016

MEDALS: 14

 Gold: 6

Kevin Paul – Swimming

Hilton Langenhoven – Athletics

Charl du Toit – Athletics

Ernst van Dyk – Cycling Reinhardt Hamman – Athletics

Charl du Toit – Athletics

Silver: 4

Ilse Hayes – Athletics

Ntando Mahlangu – Athletics

Anrune Liebenberg – Athletics

Jonathan Ntutu – Athletics

Bronze 4

Fanie van der Merwe – Athletics

Tyrone Pillay – Athletics

Zanele Situ – Athletics

Dyan Buis – Athletics

 

It’s Du Toit at the double as he gets 400m gold in Rio!

 By Mark Etheridge

Charl du Toit became Team South Africa’s first double medallist of the Rio Paralympics on Friday.

He added to his T37 gold medal in the 100m dash at the weekend by snatching another victor in the 400m event.

That meant that the 23-year-old boosted the team’s tally to 14 medals with just Saturday and Sunday’s events to go.

 

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The Johannesburg-born, Stellenbosch-based athlete clocked 51.13 seconds for a Paralympic record as he won gold by almost two seconds from Venezuela’s Omar Monterola (52.93).  ‘I’m just so thankful for this,’ said Du Toit. ‘I woke up this morning and wasn’t feeling too good but the team doctor woke up early and helped me get rid the stuff in my chest, a wonderful medical team we have here.

‘And I am also surrounded by a wonderful training group. You know, at the beginning of the year we all got a theme to train by and mine was “Smiling Lightning”, said the man who has made a smile his trademark during these games.’

Speaking of his race he said: ‘My wonderful coach, Suzanne Ferreira, and I spoke before the race and we agreed that I’d be conservative for the first 200m and then accelerate form there and it all worked out.

’To get two gold medals at my age, never in my wildest dreams did I expect that but then again, I train with some of the best athletes in the world.

‘Me and my family have been through a few tough months but hopefully I did my country proud.’ Also on the track T47 athlete Anruné Liebenberg was unable to emulate her silver medal in the 400m as she ended fourth in the 200m final with a time of 26.57.

But Dyan Buis, who won bronze in the T38 long jump on Thursday did enough to get through to the 400m final with a 54.66 finish in the heats.

In the pool Emily Gray, possibly ended her Paralympic career with the way she started it, in the 100m backstroke (S9). She was agonisingly one spot away from making the final, ninth fastest in the heats with a time of 1:16.42.

In cycling Craig Ridgard ended 28th in the final of the C1-3 road race while Goldy Fuchs was ninth in the T1-2 classification.

And there was to be no joy for four-time Paralympian Philippa Johnson and Lord Louis in the Individual Freestyle Test. The dressage combination were eliminated.

Friday’s golden action from Du Toit sees the team sitting in 19th spot with 14 medals.

Picture of Du Toit dashing to his gold medal double courtesy of Wessel Oosthuizen/SASPA

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Four more medals come Team SA’s way on bumper day in Rio

By Mark Etheridge

It was medals galore for Team South Africa on Thursday, as another four rained down in Rio on their best day of the 2016 Paralympics.

Two golds, a silver and bronze joined the nine medals already harvested by the team and taking their tally to 13 with three days of competition to come.

After Ernst van Dyk (H5 hand cycle road race) and Reinhardt Hamman (F38 javelin) had won gold in the afternoon, the evening’s track and field events saw Ndodomzi ‘Jonathan’ Ntutu sprint to silver in the T12 100-metres and Dyan Buis bounded to bronze in the T38 long jump.

Ntutu ran 11.09 seconds for a season’s best time and Buis brought bronze back to the Athletes’ Village with a best of 6.58 metres on the night.

Beating Ntutu to gold was Cuba’s Leinier Savon Pineda in a time of 10.97.

‘Actually I still feel I could have done a bit better, so maybe slightly disappointed but hey, it’s always a pleasure to get a medal for my country,’ was Ntutu’s initial reaction after the race. ‘I obviously planned to peak here but my start… it was the worst I’ve had for a while.

‘This was a much more difficult class than in 2012 so I guess getting a silver here is still a good experience. Now I’ve still got the 200m heats, semis and hopefully a final coming up. I think I’m one of the last South Africans competing at the Games, so no holiday for me.’

As for Buis, he had to face a twin-pronged podium threat from Chinese duo Jianwen Hu and Huangho Zhong who took gold and silver in 6.64 and 6.59m respectively.

That meant that, much like fellow long jumper Luvo Manyonga at last month’s Olympics, just a centimetre separated him from higher honours.

‘After the other night when I was so close in the 100m but just missed a medal, tonight I was very happy and really enjoyed the competition. Like I always do, I came out and every jump I just did it for God,’ said the Stellenbosch based athlete.

‘I actually thought the gold medal was even in reach .. but still, I’m so happy with the PB as well – and on my last jump.

‘I really went for it and gave it my all because everything was so close but it was good to have buried those 100m memories and being able to just focus on the long jump tonight.’

Despite the further two medals by Ntutu and Buis South Africa still slipped one position in the medals table after the Van Dyk/Hamman double gold had moved them from 27th to 19th. They’ll start Friday’s action in 20th spot.

In other finals involving South Africans, teenager Ntando Mahlungu ended fifth in the T42 100m final (12.57) while London Paralympian Chenelle van Zyl took fourth spot in the F34 shot put with a best heave of 8.49m on the night.

Also on the track, like Hilton Langenhoven in the T12 400m semi-final earlier in the Games there was heartache for blind runner Louzanne Coetzee as she was also disqualified.

She was running in the T11 heats with guide Khothatso Mokone at her side, she ended third but was disqualified under IPC rule 7.10 which states that the ‘guide runner must not push or pull or otherwise propel athlete’.

There’ll be heart-ache for both runner and guide right now but at just 23 years of age, there’s lots more to come for Coetzee.

Heats action saw Charl du Toit (T37) go through to the final of the 400m with a time of 55.28 while Anruné Liebenberg’s season’s best of 26.63 in the T47 200m also saw her booking a place in the final.

In the only swimming involving South Africans Hendri Herbst took fourth spot in the S11 100m freestyle final with a time of 59.71.

Apart from Van Dyk’s gold out on the road, hand-cyclist Justine Asher took 12th in a time of 1:37.36 in a tough combined H2-4 class.

Picture of Buis and Coetzee in action on Thursday, courtesy of Wessel Oosthuizen/SASPA

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Plucky Paull puts disappointment behind him and targets Tokyo

By Mark Etheridge

Debut Paralympian Graham Paull should be in the pits of despair after his disqualification from the KL1 200-metre canoe heats earlier this week.

After qualifying for the semi-final in heat two, a technical issue with his boat saw him being disqualified and leaving a Paralympic dream in tatters.

But, in true Paralympic spirit, Paull picked himself up and was back at the Lagoa Stadium on Thursday watching the finals with girlfriend Nicky Morgan and dreaming of what could have been.

‘I was in complete disbelief when I heard that my boat had failed boat control, I never dreamt that something like this would happen,’ he told Road to Rio 2016.

‘I’m absolutely devastated and hugely disappointed that this is how my first Paralympic journey has ended, but all I can do now is pick myself up and look forward to the future.

‘The Paralympic experience has been an amazing one. I’ve met so many incredible athletes and people. It’s an experience that I will take with me forever. Now I plan to go home and regroup and then focus on Tokyo 2020.’

Helping to explain exactly what happened, Paull’s manager in Rio, Fouche van Tonder explained: ‘Graham was disqualified because his boat was under weight by 0.02kg rounded up to 0.05kg. I did appeal and the boat was put on the scale again. I asked if they could put the boat on the same scale as they used in boat control but the answer was no. They did check if both scales had the same calibration and it was confirmed that they did thus Graham was disqualified.

‘The only reasons that I can think of how this could have happened was that they fixed the boat after boat control informed us that the nose of the boat was skew,’ he told Road to Rio 2016.

‘I took it back to the manufacturer and got the nose straightened. The boat then went through boat control and was fine and on 12kg which is perfect.

‘I even put in an extra 10g just in case. After this the manufacturer buffed the boat to make it smooth where they had fixed it. This must have taken the 12g off the boat. Either it was due to the fixing of the nose or there was a difference between the two scales used.

‘I was told that a second appeal would not be allowed as it was already more than 20min after the race and there was not enough time between the heat and the semi final left for them to look at it. I was also told that there was nothing further to be done.’

So while one dream has been dashed, it seems Paul’s already daring to dream again… time for Tokyo!

 

SUPERSPORT Coverage

SuperSport will broadcast two 24-hour channels (SS13 and SS14) in High Definition for the duration of the Games with producers choosing the best of four feeds from Olympic Broadcast Services. What isn’t broadcast live will be broadcast on a delayed basis.

The popular Blitz channel will carry regular Paralympic news items, while the two TV channels will be available via streaming via www.supersport.com and the SuperSport and DStv Now apps, as well as social platforms and DStv Catch Up.

Daily two-hour highlights packages will be scheduled on SS Select and SS9.

 

TEAM SA APP for Paralympics.

Following on from the Olympic Games, Team SA has its own App for all South African sports supporters wanting to follow Team SA athletes at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Loads of information can be found on the very easy to navigate App, bringing you results, competition schedules, athlete profiles, images and videos of the athletes plus more.

The App is free, users can download the App and it’s available globally. https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/teamsarise/id1133481695?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…

Support your team and keep up to date on daily sporting events in Rio with #TeamSArise mobile.

 

Results from Friday 16 September 2016

Day 9 – 16 September

SWIMMING:

Heats:

Emily Gray – 100m Backstroke (finished 3rd in heat 1, time of 1:16.42, however failed to qualify for the finals)

ATHLETICS:

Dyan Buis 400m T38 (finished 2nd in heat 2, time of 54.66 and qualifies for the finals) Charl du Toit 400m T37 (GOLD in a time of 51.13)

Anrune Liebenberg 200m T47 (finished 4th in a time of 26.57 a seasons best)

Ndodomzi Ntutu 200m T12 (heats – finished 3rd in a time of 22.91 and qualifies for the finals) Hilton Langehoven 200m T12 (heats – finished 1st in a time of 22.27 and qualified for the finals)

CYCLING:

Craig Ridgard – Men’s road race C1-3 (despite being involved in a crash, he finished in 28th position in a time of 2:07.36)

Goldy Fuchs – Men’s road race T1-2 (finished in 9th place with a time of 57.13)

EQUESTRIAN:

Phillipa Johnson Individual Freestyle Test (Dressage-finished 6th on Lord Louis with 71.300 points and was eliminated)

 

Athletes in action on Friday 16 September 2016

(All times listed below are for South Africa)

SWIMMING:

Heats:

3.43pm Alani Ferreira – 100m Backstroke S13

00.05am Alani Ferreira – 100m Backstroke S13 (potential finals)

01.24 Alani Ferreira – 100m Backstroke S13 (potential medal presentation)

ATHLETICS:

3.10pm Zanele Situ – Discus F55 (final) 3.44pm Ilse Hayes – 400m T13 (final)

4.40pm Ilse Hayes – 400m T13 (potential medal ceremony) 10.59pm Dyan Buis – 400m T38 (final)

11.06pm Zanele Situ – Discus F55 (potential medal ceremony) 11.30pm Mpumulelo Mhlongo Long Jump T44 (final)

11.47pm Dyan Buis – 400m T38 (potential medal ceremony)

11.55pm Hilton Langenhoven/Ndodomzi 200m T12 (potential final)

00.42am Hilton Langenhoven/Ndodomzi 200m T12 (potential medal ceremony)

01.51 Mpumulelo Mhlongo Long Jump T44 (potential medal ceremony)

CYCLING:

2.30pm Dane Wilson – Men’s road race C4-5 (final)

9.00pm Dane Wilson – Men’s road race C4-5 (potential medal presentation)

 

 

Source: Sascoc

Home Olympics 2016 Rio Paralympics Sports

Team SA it’s Rio 13 Sept 2016

Published by:

13 September 2016

MEDALS: 8

 Gold: 3

Kevin Paul – Swimming

Hilton Langenhoven – Athletics

Charl du Toit – Athletics

Silver: 2

Ilse Hayes – Athletics

Ntando Mahlangu – Athletics

Bronze: 3

Fanie van der Merwe – Athletics

Tyrone Pillay – Athletics

Zanele Situ – Athletics

 

Situ bags Bronze

Team SA flag bearer Zanele Situ won Bronze in the Women’s javelin, with a personal best throw of 17.90m (full report to follow)

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Buis a hair’s breadth away from bagging bronze

By Mark Etheridge

The track clock couldn’t separate Dyan Buis and Brazilian opponent Edson Pinheiro in a frenetic T37 men’s 100-metre track final at the Rio Paralympics on Tuesday.

After an initial false start to the final it took a photo decision by the judges to deny 2012 Paralympic silver medallist Buis another medal as he and the Brazilian were both adjudged to have run 11.26 seconds. Buis didn’t have the best of starts but was flying at the finish and, beaten to bronze, it was the age-old question of: if only it had been a bit further…

But there was no denying the gold and silver medallists. China’s Jianwen Hu won in a world record 10.74 to dethrone reigning Paralympic champion Evan O’Hanldon who ran 10.98 for a season’s best.

‘The false start was a bit unveiling but it was good that I got my focus back quickly,’ said Buis, originally from Riversdale in the southern Cape but now living in Cape Town where he is an ordained minister.

‘The start wasn’t good but still I have to be satisfied. I came here to run for Go but the result didn’t show that. But what I do know is that I gave my best.

‘I was way behind to begin with and I thought there was still a chance to get through at the end for the medal, it was less than 0.01sec away from that medal but I’m still happy.’

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Picture of Buis in action on Tuesday courtesy of Wessel Oosthuizen/SASPA

In another final it was London Paralympian Andrea Dalle Ave who also missed out on this occasion. In fact, he mirrored his London position with fifth in the F37 long jump final. He leapt a season’s best 5.86 as China’s Guangxu Shang won with a world record jump of 6.77. In London, Dalle Ave recorded a 6.02 for fifth.

Earlier, in one of the three athletics finals involving South Africans, Liezel Gouws ended seventh in the T37 final with a time of 1:09.08sec. That was slower than the 1:07.86 she ran in Monday’s heats but the North West teenager still looks to have a bright future.

And in the women’sT45/46/46 400-metre heats, it was Anruné Liebenberg who flew the South African flag proudly as she won the first of two heats.

Her time was 1min 01.79sec (second fastest of the qualifiers through to the final) and she’ll be encouraged with that after having undergone knee surgery earlier in the year. China’s Lu Li was quickest with a 1:00.77 win in the first heat.

Four years ago in London, Liebenberg won silver in this event. Big news in Rio on Tuesday was the non-starting of Cuba’s Yunidis Castillo, who was just sensational in London as she won 100, 200 and 400m gold in London with world records in all three.

Swimming didn’t produce much joy for the South Africans as Achmat Hassiem (58.25sec) was 18th fastest in S10 freestyle qualifying, as did Shireen Sapiro (1:08.90) in the same event for women in what looks to be her last race in the Paralympics.

Last swimmer in action was Emily Gray in the S9 50 freestyle and her 33.25 put her 20th in the rankings.

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Team SA’s medal hunt continues on Tuesday

By Mark Etheridge

Buoyed by big Tyrone Pillay’s bronze in the shot put on Monday, Team South Africa continue their medal hunt on day six of the Rio Paralympics on Tuesday.

Already there are seven in the bag… gold is what they’re chasing as despite Pillay’s bagging of bronze, Team SA still slipped three places down the medal table to 19th after completion of the day’s events.

In late night action on Monday, South Africans saw action in two swimming finals but there were no medals this time, and Kevin Paul’s gold on the opening day of competition on Thursday, remains the old swimming medal of this campaign.

London Paralympic bronze medallists Hendri Herbst and Achmat Hassiem were in S11 and S10 action, the former in the 50m freestyle, the latter in the 100m butterfly.

Blind swimmer Herbst (diving off the blocks above) was sixth in a time of 27.11 while the man they call ‘Shark Boy’ was eighth in 1:00.96.

Track action saw Liezel Gouws and Dyan Buis both going through to their respective finals. Running the second of two heats, Gouws clocked 1:07.86 in the T38 400m, her preferred event, after she ran the 100m earlier in the Games. She goes into Tuesday’s final as sixth fastest qualifier.

Buis, who won three medals at the last Games, also featured in the second of two heats and was second in 11.29, a season’s best carrying him into the final as third fastest qualifier.

Ahead of him were China’s Jianwen Hu (who ran an impressive 10.93) and defending Paralympic champion Evan O’Hanlon, who, remember, ran 10.79 to take gold in London four years ago.

 

 

Also in action will be Andrea Dalle Ave in the T37 long jump final. He was fifth in this event at the last Paralympics with a leap of 6.02m but has since gone on to improve that to 6.05m, a continental record.

Tennis saw Lucas Sithole lost 0-6 3-6 to Aussie Dylan Alcott in the semi-final and he’s in bronze medal action on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, on the equestrian front, four-time Paralympian Philippa Johnson-Dwyer and Lord Louis have their second ride of the Games on Tuesday.

At the weekend they were in action and finished fifth.

She says: ‘I have to say I was very proud of Louis. We had continuous, what we thought was gun fire, but it turned out to be fireworks being let off at a soccer match next door to the arena through our ride but he didn’t once react!

‘It’s not his best test as there is a lot of stop, start which normally allows him to get long and behind my leg but he felt amazing. We finished fifth with 69.92%. The exciting part is that between us and the horse that finished second is only 0.4% so how’s that for close grouping?’ Tuesday sees the same combination taking on the Individual Championships.

Pictures of Herbst and Sithole, courtesy of Wessel Oosthuizen/SASPA

  

SUPERSPORT Coverage

SuperSport will broadcast two 24-hour channels (SS13 and SS14) in High Definition for the duration of the Games with producers choosing the best of four feeds from Olympic Broadcast Services. What isn’t broadcast live will be broadcast on a delayed basis.

The popular Blitz channel will carry regular Paralympic news items, while the two TV channels will be available via streaming via www.supersport.com and the SuperSport and DStv Now apps, as well as social platforms and DStv Catch Up.

Daily two-hour highlights packages will be scheduled on SS Select and SS9.

 

TEAM SA APP for Paralympics.

Following on from the Olympic Games, Team SA has its own App for all South African sports supporters wanting to follow Team SA athletes at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Loads of information can be found on the very easy to navigate App, bringing you results, competition schedules, athlete profiles, images and videos of the athletes plus more.

The App is free, users can download the App and it’s available globally. https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/teamsarise/id1133481695?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…

Support your team and keep up to date on daily sporting events in Rio with #TeamSArise mobile.

 

Results from Tuesday 13 September 2016

 

SWIMMING:

Heats:

Achmat Hassiem – 100m Freestyle S10 (finished in 5th place, time of 58.25 and failed to qualify for finals)

Shireen Shapiro – 100m Freestyle S10 (finished in 7th place, time of 1:08.90 an failed to qualify for finals)

Emily Gray – 50m Freestyle S9 (finished in 7th place, time of 33.91 and failed to qualify for the finals)

ATHLETICS:

Heats:

Anrune Liebenberg 400m T47 (finished 1st, time of 1:101.79 and qualified for the finals) Leizel Gouws (final) 400m T37 (finished 7th, time of 1:09.08)

Dyan Buis (final) 100m T38 (finished 4th, time of 11.26, beaten for Bronze, by one thousand of a second)

Andrea Dalle Ave (final) Long Jump T37 (finished 5th with a best jump of 5.86m) Zanele Situ – Javelin F54 final (BRONZE finished with a throw of 17.90m) EQUESTRIAN:

Phillipa Johnson – Individual Championship Test –Grade III Dressage Final (finished in 7th position on Lord Louis with 69.390 points)

Athletes in action on Wednesday 14 September 2016

(All times listed below are for South Africa)

SWIMMING:

No swimming today.

ATHLETICS:

4.07pm Zanele Situ – medal ceremony Javelin F54 5.27pm Ndodomzi Ntutu 100m T12 (heat)

5.50pm Ntando Mahlangu 100m T42 (heat) 10.30pm Zandile Nhlapo Shot Put F34 (final) 11.26pm Anrune Liebenberg 400m T47 (final)

00.24am (Thurs) Anrune Liebenberg 400m T47 (medal ceremony)

TENNIS:

5.00pm Lucas Sithole – Quad mixed singles Bronze medal match WT20-21

CANOEING:

2.15pm Graham Paull – Men’s Kayak single KL1 200m (heat) 3.22pm Potential semi final

CYCLING:

1.00pm Craig Ridgard – Road Time trial C2 (final) 2.00pm Roxy Burns – Road Time trial C1-3 (final) 2.17pm Ernst van Dyk – Road time trial H5 (final) 3.30pm Justine Asher – Road time trial H2-3 (final)

4.40pm Craig Ridgard – potential medal presentation – Road Time trial C2 5.00pm Roxy Burns – potential medal presentation Road Time trial C1-3 5.05pm Ernst van Dyk – potential medal presentation Road time trial H5 5.30pm Justine Asher – potential medal presentation Road time trial H2-3 6.56pm Dane Wilson – Road time trial C5 (final)

8.23pm Goldy Fuchs – Road time trial T1-2 (final)

9.15pm Dane Wilson – potential medal presentation Road time trial C5

9.35pm Goldy Fuchs – potential medal presentation Road time trial T1-2

ARCHERY:

3.15pm Shaun Anderson – Men’s individual compound – open 1/16 8.00pm Men’s individual compound – open 1/8

10.00pm Men’s individual compound – open 1/4 11.15pm Men’s individual compound – open- finals

00.20am (Thurs) Men’s individual compound – potential medal ceremony

 

Source: Sascoc

Home Olympics 2016 Rio Paralympics Sports

Team SA It’s Rio 12 Sep 2016

Published by:

12 September 2016

MEDALS: 7

 Gold: 3

Kevin Paul – Swimming

Hilton Langenhoven – Athletics

Charl du Toit – Athletics

Silver: 2

Ilse Hayes – Athletics

Ntando Mahlangu – Athletics

Bronze 2

Fanie van der Merwe – Athletics

Tyrone Pillay – Athletics

 

Pillay picks up Team SA’s seventh medal at Rio

By Mark Etheridge

Big shot-putter Tyrone Pillay pushed Team South Africa’s medal tally to seven at the Rio Paralympics on Monday.

After a bumper day on Sunday with four medals (one gold, two silvers and a bronze) Pillay kept up the medal-winning momentum in the F42 category as he heaved the sphere a career-best 13.91 metres.

That comfortably eclipsed his previous best of 13.49m and was a new national and continental best.

Winner, and in a class of his own was Great Britain’s Aled Davis with a 15.97m on the day. It took a Paralympic record from Davies and a season’s best from Iran’s Salad Mohammedian (14.31) to keep Durban’s Pillay down on the lowest level of the podium.

Pillay, having turned 36 on 1 May this year, is not the youngest member of the SA team but it showed that his birthday rather aptly falls on Worker’s Day annually!

Also fittingly, it was in Rio earlier this year that his previous best hurl had been achieved.

On paper he may have not been favoured to podium but Pillay has now painted his name into Paralympic history. ‘The guys didn’t realise I could throw this far and I came out guns blazing. Man, I respect all those guys, they’ve helped me push through this far.

‘Alex is just an awesome guy, awesome competitor…’

pillay

Photo Credits: Martin Potgieter

There was also respect, huge respect, to the people behind the scenes, some of them no longer with us.

‘I lost my dad Teddy 14 years ago, my mom Suzy has still got cancer.. this is for them, and the whole of South Africa, especially for those who believed in me.’

And despite his ‘advanced’ age, Pillay has no thoughts of putting his shot away. ‘No, this makes me want to go on. I just love this sport too much. I want to grow this sport and get a whole heap of youngsters coming through.’

In swimming action earlier in the day it was 2012 Paralympic bronze medallist Hendri Herbst who ended second in his S11 50m freestyle heat to go through to the late-evening final.

He was joined by Achmat Hassiem who was sixth in his S10 100m butterfly heat to sneak through to the final as the slowest of eight swimmers.

Not so fortunate were Alani Ferreira and 2012 Paralympian Emily Gray.

Ferreira swam her fourth and penultimate eventsin the pool for Team SA when she went off in the S13 400-metres freestyle. She swam heat one of two and ended seventh in 5min 18.06sec. That put her 13th of 14 swimmers.

Then Gray was in action in the S9 100m freestyle and ended eighth and last in heat three with a time of 1:10.58 more than 5sec off the qualifying time for the final.

Team South Africa remained 16th on the medals table with those seven medals, despite Pillay’s performance… gold is what they seek to move higher and higher!

pillay2

 

It’s six of the best for Team SA in Rio

By Mark Etheridge

 South Africa woke up on Monday to anything but a blue Monday as Team South Africa celebrated six of the best medals in Rio de Janeiro.

After a super productive afternoon on the track where first Charl du Toit and Fanie van der Merwe won gold and bronze in the T37 100m final and Ilse Hayes then sealed silver in the T13 100m it was up to teenager Ntando Mahlangu to come to the party.

And come to the party he did as he raced to silver in the men’s T42 final in the evening session of athletics.

We use the term ‘men’ lightly here as let’s remember, Ntando is just 14 years old, and been fitted with prostheses for less than four years!

ntando

The Mpumalanga athlete motored to a time of 23.77 seconds, only being beaten by British Paralympic sensation Richard Whithead (23.39).

It still hadn’t quite sunk in as to what he’d done on the biggest stage of all. ‘Wow, it’s a very great feeling and I just want to thank SA for allowing me to have this opportunity. Thanks to all the people back home who helped me get here.

‘As for the final, everyone is just running his best hey, I’m happy with my result, I ran a personal best so really can’t expect much more.’

And it certainly looks like the world of para-athletics can look forward a lot more from Mahlangu. ‘Hey, I just pray every day for God to keep me in his eyes so…Tokyo 2020 here I come.

‘I never really expected a medal but I knew if did my best there was a chance.’

Sixteenth on the medals table after Du Toit’s gold, Van der Merwe’s bronze and Hayes’ silver, Team SA consolidated that spot with Mahlangu’s medal.

At the 2012 Games, Team SA ended 18th on the medals table with 29 medals, eight of them gold.

Away from the track and shooter Khone van Zeuner ended 27th in the P3 Precision division with 273-3x points and in the P3 Rapid he ended 20th with 548-11x points, failing to reach the final. There was also disappointment for dressage rider Philippa Johnson and her horse Lord Louis, the four-time Paralympian ending fifth in qualification with 69.921 and not qualifying for a medal. Swimmer Kevin Paul, SA’s first gold medallist at these Games, ended sixth in the S10 Individual Medley with a time of 2:16.25 as Ukraine’s Denys Dubrov exacted revenge for Paul beating him in last week’s SB10 breaststroke final.

On to Monday’s action and in the pool Alani Ferreira continues her Paralympics debut with her fourth event in Rio, London bronze medallist Hendri Herbst is in action, as is fellow 2012 bronze medallist Achmat Hassiem and Emily Gray is the four swimmer in what she has hinted will beher last Paralympics.

Athletics heat activity sees Liezel Gouws in her favourite event, the T37 400m, while Dyan Buis is in T38 action, the event where he won silver four years ago. One final has SA participation, big Tyrone Pillay in the F42 shot put.

Said Durban’s Pillay: ‘So it’s finally “go-time”. I can’t wait to go out there and give of my best. Send all the good vibes and energy… proudly South African.

‘I feel great, and as relaxed and prepared as I’ll ever be. Obviously on the day anything can happen and it’s not practical to put a mark on distance but training has been going great and I know what I’m capable of. It’s now time to put it on the big stage.

‘I do this for all the people back home and loving all the support we’re receiving from home.’ And then there’s tennis where Lucas Sithole teams up with Aussie Dylan Alcott in the Quad Singles mixed semi-final.

SUPERSPORT Coverage

SuperSport will broadcast two 24-hour channels (SS13 and SS14) in High Definition for the duration of the Games with producers choosing the best of four feeds from Olympic Broadcast Services. What isn’t broadcast live will be broadcast on a delayed basis.

The popular Blitz channel will carry regular Paralympic news items, while the two TV channels will be available via streaming via www.supersport.com and the SuperSport and DStv Now apps, as well as social platforms and DStv Catch Up.

Daily two-hour highlights packages will be scheduled on SS Select and SS9.

 

TEAM SA APP for Paralympics.

Following on from the Olympic Games, Team SA has its own App for all South African sports supporters wanting to follow Team SA athletes at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Loads of information can be found on the very easy to navigate App, bringing you results, competition schedules, athlete profiles, images and videos of the athletes plus more.

The App is free, users can download the App and it’s available globally. https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/teamsarise/id1133481695?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…

Support your team and keep up to date on daily sporting events in Rio with #TeamSArise mobile.

 

Results from Mon 12 September 2016

 SWIMMING:

Heats:

Alani Ferreira – 400m Freestyle S13 (finished 7th, time of 5:18.06 and did not qualify for finals) Henri Herbst – 50m Freestyle S11 (finished 2nd, time of 26.95 and qualified for the finals) Achmat Hassiem 100m Butterfly S10 (finished 5th, time 1:00.40 and qualified for the finals) Emily Gray 100m freestyle S9 (finished 8th, time 1:10.58 and did not qualify for finals)

Finals:

Henri Herbst – 50m Freestyle S11 (finished 6th, time of 27.11)

Achmat Hassiem 100m Butterfly S10 final (finished 8th, time of 1:00.96)

ATHLETICS:

Heats:

Leizel Gouws 400m T37 (finished 3rd, time of !:07.86 and qualified for finals) Tyrone Pillay Final shot put F42 (BRONZE with a throw of 13.91)

Dyan Buis 100m T38 (finished 2nd, time of 11.29 and qualified for the finals) TENNIS:

Lucas Sithole – Quad’s singles mixed WT13-16 (lost 0-6, 3-6 to Dylan Alcott in the semi final and will now play for a Bronze medal on Wednesday)

 

Athletes in action on Tuesday 13 September 2016

(All times listed below are for South Africa)

SWIMMING:

Heats:

3.26pm Achmat Hassiem – 100m Freestyle S10 3.33pm Shireen Shapiro – 100m Freestyle S10 4.29pm Emily Gray – 50m Freestyle S9 Potential finals:

11.11pm Achmat Hassiem – 100m Freestyle S10 11.17pm Shireen Shapiro – 100m Freestyle S10

00.33am (Wed) Achmat Hassiem – potential medal presentation – 100m Freestyle S10 00.41am (Wed) Shireen Shapiro – potential medal presentation – 100m Freestyle S10 00.55am (Wed) Emily Gray – 50m Freestyle S9

2.07am (Wed) Emily Gray – potential medal presentation – 50m Freestyle S9

ATHLETICS:

3.00pm Anrune Liebenberg (heats) 400m T47 3.14pm Leizel Gouws (final) 400m T37 3.40pm Dyan Buis (final) 100m T38

3.50pm Andrea Dalle Ave (final) Long Jump T37

4.07pm Leizel Gouws – potential medal ceremony 400m T37 4.42pm Dyan Buis – potential medal ceremony 100m T38

5.38pm Andrea Dalle Ave –potential medal ceremony Long Jump T37 10.33pm Zanele Situ – Javelin F54 final

00.33am (Wed) Ndodomzi Ntutu (heat) 100m T12

EQUESTRIAN:

7.00pm Phillipa Johnson – Individual Championship Test –Grade III Dressage Final 10.05pm potential medal ceremony.

Source: Sascoc

 

Africa Faith Home Interviews Paralympics Proudly South African Sports Swimming

Up-Close with Adri Visser

Published by:

Adri Visser, SA Swimming Olympian, motivational speaker, NWU Potch graduate is just such an inspiration in sport and in life. She exudes such joie de vivre, such contagious positivity, and so much faith. Humble in greatness, she has a deep passion for people with disabilities and those facing huge challenges in life. Adri’s life story so beautifully reflects how one person can do so much with so little – Grace indeed!

Adri was born disabled, caused by the fact that her mom contracted German measles while pregnant. Adri is a woman who knows hardship, rejection and pain, all too well, and yet has managed to rise all the way to the top.

For now she has her eyes set on Rio Olympics 2016, with the intention to “retire” from competitive sport after that, but continue her career in Biokinetics. She wants to be involved in patient rehabilitation. “I think that being disabled myself I would be able to help, inspire and motivate them to achieve so much more in their physical lives than what they would have ever thought would be possible, to go beyond their wildest expectations and feel “free” in their bodies and improve their quality of life. “If I could do it, so can you””.

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Athlete: Bio / Stats

Name & Surname Adri Ilaine Visser
Nick Name Adri or Nemo
Date of birth 19 Feb 1988
Place of birth Benoni, Gauteng
Current City Potchefstroom
Height Not sure, maybe 1.42 m
Weight 54 kg
Shoe Size 5
Club St’ Andrews Dragons
Coach’s Name Marike van Oort and Theo Verster
Out of Country events/ meets Check my cv attached.
Secondary Sport/ sports I like watching rugby
Favorite City Cape Town
Favorite Song/ type of music Katy Perry Unconditionally Chris Tomlin Sovereign
Favorite Movie Ice Castle and Lying to be perfect.
School & Grade Hoërskool Birchleigh, Class of 2006
Tertiary Inst Name/ Year North-West University Potchefstroom, Graduated 2014
Tertiary degree/ diploma Sport Science Diploma, 2009 to 2011BA Human Movement Science and Psychology, 2012 to 2014
Parents Names, siblings Petro Marais (Mother)53Jolanie Mauer (Sister)31Ilza Visser (Sister)29
Very briefly describe yourself as a person. I see myself as a very positive person whom knows who I am and what I want out of life.  My relationship with God is the center of my existence & the rock in my life.  Every friendship I’m  blessed to have and means so much to me.

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INTERVIEW:

You are an Olympian, one of SA’s top swimmers, passionate and doing so well in your ­­­­­­­swimming, tell me a little bit about how you started in swimming and your journey in the swimming arena up to now?

I started swimming in October 2001 when my primary school asked if anyone would be interested in swimming, I didn’t have any sport at that time and felt like trying something new.  I swam my first gala in Germiston a month later and my first SASAPD Nedbank Champs in March 2002.  I really began to love swimming and so it grew into a passion and my dream was born to become a Paralympic swimmer with records behind my name.

What is the highest accolade that you have achieved in swimming and what is your greatest personal accomplishment?

It would definitely be representing my country at the Beijing Paralympic Games 2008 coming 9th in the 100m Breaststroke SB4.  My greatest personal accomplishment would be my 2 Africa Records with 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal at the Pan Pacific Champs USA last year and this year at the IPC World Champs 2 new Africa Records and a Rio 2016 50m Butterfly MQS Qualifying time.  Academically it would be finishing my BA Degree in Human Movement Science and Psychology last year. 

Do you have any specific regimens or rituals in swimming? Maybe a particular diet / training method that can be partially attributed to your success?

Before I race in any competition I pray that God would give me His strength and let His will be done.  When I’m very nervous before an event I sing gospel songs that calm me down and give me confidence.  I like eating so perhaps before races I will carbo-load with yummie pasta. With training, I try to follow my coach’s programs to the best of my ability and so she will make sure that I taper at the exact right time.

You have travelled outside SA before, what are you highlights of these travels, and what does travelling do for your mindset/ perspective on things?

I think I absolutely love going to the landmarks of each country like The Great Wall of China which makes every country so special.  Having a look at old buildings and places like its roots & cultures.  We are so busy with the swimming that we don’t always have time to explore the countries we get to go to.  I feel so thankful for the opportunity to represent SA internationally so I strive to always give my best by swimming my heart out and embracing every opportunity.  My mindset is focused and very optimistic.

How do you manage to fit in sports and academics and family into your schedule?

I think it’s all about setting priorities which changes with every season, test and competition but it doesn’t matter how hectic things are –making time for friends and family is of utmost importance to me.

Besides your swimming what do you have a passion for?

I love being a motivational speaker, inspiring and uplifting other people’s spirits; life and hearts is what it’s all about.  To get them to stand up in the people God has made them to be, to find that purpose in life, to follow their dreams and reach for the stars.  Have a look at my ambassador section in my cv.  I love being a part of the community.

Would you like to share a little bit more about your faith journey and how it has affected your life / sports?

I believe that everything in life happens for a reason, the good and bad times -happen so that God can mould and shape you into the strong & amazing person whom you are meant to be.  How can you help someone and show sympathy when you yourself haven’t experienced anything like it or similar in your own life?  Having faith in the unknown future is so valuable, believing that God only has great plans in my life (Jeremiah 29:11) and gives me strength to do all thing (Phill. 4:13) is what drives me.  My comfort is that by His Grace I am saved, He will never leave nor forsake me.  I’m His beloved daughter.

What do you do to relax?

I’m a series girl, like watching different series like: the mentalist, grey’s anatomy, vampire diaries, suits, arrow, the flash, game of thrones and once upon a time.

Which athlete/ athletes inspire you?

Natalie du Toit

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What is your personal favourite motivational quote?

Always Have Faith!!!

What is your favourite Bible / Scripture quote?

I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. Phill.4:13

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

“Adri, jy is ‘n fantastiese persoon.  Moet nooit verander om by enige iemand in te pas nie”.

Living away from home / travelling extensively is a sacrifice, in this situation, what does it feel like?  What grounds you and what becomes your touchstone to remind you that the sacrifice is worth it?

Yes things can be extensive sometimes, but I choose not to see things as a sacrifice because I get to do what I love every day.  By living every day to the fullest is what’s really important; keeping my faith and eyes upon my dreams is what drives me.

What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge?

It’s true that I have a big physical disability and that is a bit shocking to people I come into contact with that doesn’t really know me, they tend to feel sorry for me or underestimate my capabilities but I can just imagine their thoughts –so I strive to show them just what I can do and prove them wrong.  I’m a social person who will stand up for myself and won’t say no to a challenge.

When an athlete hits some “hard / difficult patch in their sports career, what goes through your mind at that time? What advice can you give other young athletes in this regard?

Yes, the road to success or reaching your dreams comes with a lot of hard work, difficult times with some disappointments.  But in those times it’s important to remember all the great times too.  I qualified and had great times for the London 2012 Paralympics but unfortunately I wasn’t chosen to represent S.A.  It was one of the hardest times in my life, I couldn’t get into the pool without crying and felt broken and worthless.  Looking back finds me thankful because that’s where my relationship with God became so much stronger and my identity of being just Adri was what I needed to explore without swimming.  Swimming doesn’t define me; it’s just a small thing of who I am.  God healed my heart and so my love & passion for swimming sparked again, helping me to swim and compete again.  I’m stronger than ever, swimming personal best times and now I pursue other thing that’s of value to me so much more than before.  It’s not about how hard you fall but rather how fast you stand up.  Never ever back down!!!!!!

When you’ve had a tough / bad day, what lifts you up again?

Hanging out with friends and talking to God about it.

I’m sure you have many things going on right now, what’s to be expected next from you?

As you will see my next goal will be the competing in Rio 2016 but more importantly is being accepted in the Honours Program in Biokinetics at the university. 

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Adri on You Tube:

Thank you so much for taking this interview. We would like to wish you all the best for your journey ahead. We look forward to following you as you go from strength to strength. Blessings!

Africa Home Paralympics Proudly South African Sports

Send-Off: IPC World Champs 2015

Published by:

This is a special “send -off” and BON COURAGE post for one of our Heslop Sports Athletes, champion swimmer, Olympian, friend – HENDRIK VAN DER MERWE. All the best to Hendrik and the ENTIRE TEAM SA, as you represent South Africa proudly at the IPC Swimming World Champs in Glasgow organized by the International Paralympic Swimming Committee.

''If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. Perseverance, Gratitude, Blessed life".

”If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. Perseverance, Gratitude, Blessed life”.

The SA SQUAD consists of: Men – Hendrik Herbst, Kevin Paul, Achmat Hassiem, Johann van Heerden, Challis Wright, Hendrik van der Merwe and James Bezuidenhout. Women – Emily Gray, Adri Visser and Beth Nothling.

IMG_3710

See more at: http://www.sascoc.co.za/2015/05/30/sa-team-announced-for-2015-ipc-swimming-world-championships/#sthash.QYsG3vqM.dpuf

Van der Merwe says this about himself: “By reaching the highest level of sport in South Africa, in spite of being a paraplegic, I have proven exceptional dedication and commitment in everything I do. My extensive achievements as a professional sportsman provide evidence of my motivation. Preparing for participation at International level has taught me that giving up is not an option, and I have incorporated this approach in my personal and professional life. I’m a highly competitive person, a fast learner, and I have the ability to adapt quickly to changes in my environment”.

The daily grind to keep fit

The daily grind to keep fit

These are some of Hendrik’s Special Achievements

Swimming 2005: • Won silver and bronze in England swimming championships. • Broke five under 17 SA records at the South African Disabled Championships.

Swimming 2006: • Broke two SA Senior Records • Awarded senior Protea colors • Participated in Senior IPC World Championships (reached finals in the 100m breaststroke event)

A coaches reward - SOME MEDALS!

A coaches reward – SOME MEDALS!

Swimming 2007: • Awarded junior Protea colors. • Chosen for the preliminary squad representing South Africa in the Beijing Paralympic games.

Swimming 2010: • Chosen for the South African team in the IPC World Championships in Netherland.

Swimming 2012: • No.1 on world rankings for 50m breaststroke • No.5 on world rankings for 100m breaststroke • Qualified for the 2012 London paralympic games, and selected for the South African squad

Swimming 2013: • No.2 on world rankings for 50m breaststroke • No.7 on world rankings for 100m breaststroke • Selected for RSA senior squad to represent South Africa at the ipc world championships in Montreal Canada

Total swimming awards at point of publication: • 73 medals: 36gold, 21silver, 16 bronze.

Glory days - 2012 Olympics

Glory days – 2012 Olympics

 

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