DAILY UPDATE – 18 September 2016

FINAL MEDAL TALLEY: 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 Langenh

 

Bronze 4

Fanie van der Merwe – Athletics Tyrone Pillay – Athletics

Zanele Situ – Athletics Dyan Buis – Athletics

 

Van Dyk sixth in marathon as Team SA’s 2016 Games come to an end

By Mark Etheridge

Seven-time Paralympian Ernst van Dyk wrapped up Team South Africa’s 2016 Paralympics with a sixth-spot finish in the wheelchair marathon on Sunday.

And fellow ‘veteran’ Fanie van der Merwe was honoured as the team’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony later in the day.

Van Dyk 43, who on Thursday had won gold in the road race, ended with a time of 1hr 30min 11sec, the only SA competitor in action. Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won in 1:26.16.

‘Conditions were very extreme and the the heat was severe,’ said Van Dyk. ‘Marcel Hug made an attack after the first turning point, and I saw David Weir just gave up.’

‘I tried to chase them down but then it’s a case of mind games… no-one wanted to help and it was then a race for bronze, just trying to survive and jostling around.

‘I had a good position but then there was a Chinese girl that we lapped and she was bang in front of us and I went right back to the back of the bunch. That’s the thing with multiple loops… these things happen and it gets more complicated. Once the guys got a gap I yelled at the guys to help pull but I knew that was it.

‘But still it as a very good Games for me (fifth, first and sixth) and I also didn’t do any specific work for this race and was hoping for a bit of a slower race.’

Onwards and upwards thought for Van Dyk. ‘Next week is Berlin Marathon then Chicago and New York.

‘Even further ahead I just want to keep on racing the marathon circuit and keep on going as long as I can, and hey, if Tokyo 2020 comes around and I’m still there .. we’ll have to see!’

Sunday’s results see Team South African end their 2016 Games with 17 medals, seven gold, six silver and four bronze.

That put them 22nd on the medals table. Four years ago in London, Team SA won 29 medals (eight gold, 12 silver and nine bronze) which put them 18th on the rankings.

Picture of Van Dyk in action on Sunday courtesy of Wessel Oosthuizen/SASPA

  

Dyan, Hilton help Team SA to two more medals in Rio

By Mark Etheridge

The national rugby team might not have given much reason for celebration on Saturday but South Africa’s Paralympic team continued to rake in the medals on the other side of the world. While the Springboks went down to New Zealand, Dyan Buis and Hilton Langenhoven helped maintain Team SA’s momentum on the medals table in Rio de Janeiro.

Buis joined Charl du Toit and Ilse Hayes as a double medal winner as he added T38 400m gold to his long jump bronze while Langenhoven loped to silver in the T12 200m in a time of 22.43.. Making it even better a day for Buis was the fact that his 49.46sec win was a Paralympic record. ‘It was quite emotional for me out there becauseI knew we’d worked hard this season.’ said Buis. ‘It was marvellous. My lane draw was perfect and I fed on the runners in front of me – especially the Tunisian and Chinese guy, and then the last 200m i attacked.

‘I have to give credit to coach Suzanne Ferreira and the team around me like the physios, stakeholders and and my gym coach.

‘Tonight I also wanted to run for my wife Erna and little daughter, Jinne, which was huge motivation.

‘As for the future I’m just going to take it as it comes. I’m not thinking of quitting right now but I also have to focus on my teaching career… I need a job right now, so come on guys, if there’s anyone listening out there.

‘I’ll go home a very happy man. The last four years weren’t the easiest of my life but I’m just happy that it all worked well today.’

Some trivia pertinent to Saturday’s celebration was that Buis attended Hoërskool Langenhoven in Riversdale!

Langenhoven with his 200m silver medal.

Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN/SASPA

Just as happy was ‘veteran’ Langenhoven after his Games had started off with the disappointment of disqualification in the 400m. He was beaten to gold by Cuba’s Leinier Savon

Pineda who won in 22.23.

‘I’m delighted to end off the Games for me with a silver… This was going to be my last race but now I’m thinking of World Champs next year where I’ll focus on the long jump.

’It was a bit disappointing start to the Games with that disqualification but now I’m chuffed, and I’ll take a silver any day… we hadn’t really focused on the 200m – it was more for speed- endurance for that 400m.

‘But gold and silver for me is fantastic.. I’ve got seven Paralympic medals now so you an say that I’m in seventh heaven!’

As for the future. ‘Well, we’ll take it to forward the Commonwealth Games and thinking even further ahead, if long jump is part of the schedule in Tokyo… why not,’ he laughed.

The team’s two extra medals on Saturday helped the maintain 22nd on the honours table and they now boast 17 medals – seven gold, six silver and four bronze.

Also in action on Saturday evening was Mpumi Mhlongo in the men’s T44 long jump where he ended sixth with a personal best 6.79m.

‘Sadly I only had one jump in which was my safety jump to get into the top eight and after that I must have stepped over by 1cm each time as I only fouled with a spike mark once.

‘It was amazing to see the record-breaking Markus Rehm do what he is best known for and the growth of my fellow competitors. My highlight of the night is being able to share Dyan’s gold medal moment with him as he took his victory lap.

‘To all the support back home, friends, family and strangers, you have warmed many of our hearts here in Rio. To the management (SASCOC) and medical staff, thank you for making Rio 2016 a reality.’

Just one competitor is still in action, fittingly it’s one of the team’s stalwarts, seven-time Paralympian Ernst van Dyk in the T54. Already with one gold medal in the bag (road race), here’s hoping the big guy can end it all on a high!

Picture of Buis celebrating gold courtesy of Wessel Oosthuizen/SASPA

 Results from Sunday 18 September 2016

 CYCLING:

Ernst van Dyk – Marathon T54 (finished in 6th place with a time of 1:30.10)

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