December 20 is probably the only day of the year that hand-cyclist Johan Janse van Rensburg loathes.
On December 20 in 2009, the Morehill resident was involved in a motorbike accident that changed his life forever.
“We were on a breakfast run on the R25 when I had to swerve for a truck that nearly took me out. I went off the road slightly and my front wheel hit a ditch and I cart-wheeled,” he said.
Janse van Rensburg never let that fateful day change his approach to life.
Already an active sportsman who excelled for North West in athletics and rugby, after the accident he tried wheelchair basketball.
But due to the demands of his job, he missed out on practice sessions. In May 2018, he decided to give hand-cycling a try.
Four years later, Janse van Rensburg is a national champion after his dominant display at the South Africa National Road and Time Trial Championships in Graskop in February.
He won a gold medal in both the road race and time trials.
“With athletics, you always go to the nationals but getting a medal is out of reach. You knew you were not good enough.“
Now with cycling, I get to wear the Cycling South Africa shirt which is given to the winners. When you look at it, it’s like my life was changed but I wouldn’t have achieved it had not been for the tragedy.
“It’s a proud moment to sit with two gold medals as the best cyclist in my category in South Africa,” he told the City Times.
In February 2020, he was second at both the national championships and Cape Town Cycle Tour. He said the lockdowns affected his momentum but he nevertheless continued to train.
“It was difficult training and not having any targets. It felt like you needed that extra motivation to train. When we knew that Gauteng champs were going to happen, it was a big motivation.
“Covid-19 gave me the freedom to train harder and be better prepared. I won a gold medal at the provincial champs in January and now I’m a national champion.”
Janse van Rensburg is waiting to hear if he has been selected to represent the country at the UCI Para-cycling World Championships in Canada in August.
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