Paralympic gold for discus sensation Simoné Kruger
A South African Paralympic star transmitted her glee to the world, throwing her arms joyfully in the air, after realising yet another triumph.
World discus champion Simoné Kruger (19) has added another medal to Team South Africa’s tally, clinching a brilliant Paralympic gold medal in the Women’s Discus throw F38 event tonight with a distance of 38.70m.
𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐊𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃!
Simone Kruger lit up the Paralympics with an incredible performance in the discus event, bringing home the gold for #TeamSA! 🥇🔥 #Paralympics #ForMyCountry pic.twitter.com/uYEjOuUBUV
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) September 6, 2024
Before tonight’s performance, the shotput and discus specialist from Pretoria was a double world record holder.
After setting the world record in last year’s women’s discus throw F38 in Paris, she bettered that mark by 72cm, earning another world title and a gold medal with a toss of 38.82m at the Kobe 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Japan, in May.
🔥 Throwback to when Simone Kruger shattered the world record in the Women’s F38 Discus Throw at the para world championship! 🌍💪 A true #TeamSA legend.
She’s back in action tonight at 20:32—let’s cheer her on! 🇿🇦
#ForMyCountry #Paralympics #Throwback pic.twitter.com/pIdlBQFF8e— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) September 6, 2024
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, held in 2021 due to Covid-19, she finished fifth with a throw of 31.51m.
According to Paralympics.org, Kruger started her athletics journey 10 years ago.
“She was enthused by her sister while she was training for discus, decided to take up the discipline and realised that she had a knack for it.
“At the age of 12, the youngster commenced with discus competitions and won most of them, thus building self-confidence in the process.”
She is coached by her father, Andries.
Watch: Kruger and her father explain the dynamic of working together in a sporting capacity:
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za