GALLERY: Medals galore for disabled champs
WESTDENE – Disabled athletes break world records at UJ.
Smiles and medals were glinting in the sun at the University of Johannesburg Athletics Stadium on 2 April. This because the last of the medals for the Nedbank National Championships for Physically Disabled were presented. “I’m just feeling grateful for the opportunity to run again,” said Irmgard Bensusan (24), who broke two world records and won three gold medals.
Bensusan is from Germany, and finished studying accounting at the UJ last year. She broke the 200m world record with 26.64 seconds, and the 400m world record with 61 seconds. Her third gold medal came from winning the 100m sprint, in a time of 13.03 seconds. Bensusan used to compete in able-bodied athletics, until she tore a nerve in her knee while competing in hurdles in 2009. Now she is paralysed knee-down in her right leg.
“I am very excited and looking forward to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” said Tshepo Bhebe of Vereeneging, winner of a gold medal winner in the 400m. He added that his short-term goal is to make a world record there. The winning region for athletics was Gauteng, and Noxolo Magongoa, team manager for the Adelaide Tambo school in Soweto, received the trophy. “My school had six pupils competing,” she boasted.
“Everyone got a medal. Between us, we got five gold and two silver.” South Africa Sport for Physically Disabled (SASPD) president Isaac Shadung said that all eight sports in the championships went well. “People performed well, and many people came and showed how important this is,” he said. “Disability is part of the community.” Various other records were broken during the championships, which took place at various sports centres around Johannesburg, including the Randburg Sports Complex.
