Toekies’ Paralympic star
David McKlopper is a Paralympic athlete and swimming star from Toekies who will be heading to Mexico soon.
David McKlopper, 16, who was born in the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg, with a condition called Roberts Phocomelia, has been invited to compete in the International Paralympic World championships (IPC) in Mexico City, Mexico in two months’ time.
The condition, also known as Roberts Syndrome, is extremely rare. Children who are born with this syndrome have under-developed limbs. He has had to undergo several operations (every second/ third year) to remove parts of the bones which grow through the skin.
David started swimming in September 2012 at the Mandeville Dolphins Swimming Club at Ellis Park, with the intention of losing some weight. He wasn’t expecting to do particularly well, but when he realised he had a talent, he decided to continue swimming. He trains for two and a half hours, five times a week and is coached by Tadhg Slattery, a retired Paralympic swimming champion. David has been chosen to compete in the 100 metre backstroke and 50 metre butterfly races in Mexico, in September.
David has accomplished a great deal in the short time he has been swimming competitively. His achievements include:
• Two gold medals and one silver in the SA School Aquatics Championships 2017.
• A gold medal at the Gauteng School Games 2017.
• He holds two 2017 Africa records in the men’s U/18 backstroke category.
• A gold medal in the SA School Sports in Pretoria 2017.
• A silver medal in the butterfly event at the SA National Aquatic Championships 2017.
• Two silver medals at the SA Regionals Swimming Championships 2017.
• He was awarded provincial colours for swimming in 2016.• A gold medal in the Nedbank National Championships 2016.• A gold medal in the Vita-thion CGA Championships 2016.
• A bronze medal in the Central Gauteng Aquatics 2015.
Now he has been selected to join the international team that will represent South Africa in Mexico in September/ October 2017 at the International Paralympic Championships (IPC).
David attends the Hope School in Johannesburg, where he has shown strong leadership characteristics. He is friendly, funny and pleasant to be around. He is a hardworking, goal-driven person with no fear of challenges. His family consists of his parents, Sarunesa and Julius McKlopper, and his sister, Junice. They all love him very much, support him in all his endeavours, and are extremely proud of him. He believes in the Lord God Almighty with all his might. His motto in life is based on Phillipians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.
David has featured in various newspaper reports, and on the television programmes Cutting Edge on SABC 1 and SABC 3, Fit-for-life on DSTV Channel 404 in 2016, and Made in SA in January 2017.
The International Paralympic Championships (IPC) is self-funded, which means that David has to find R120 000 to cover his costs and those of his assistant.
Anyone willing to assist with donations is requested to contact his parents on 078 0779 328, or journalist Maritza van Zyl at the Herald on 011 693 3671.
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