Down syndrome athletes excel in Pretoria

Athletics history was made at the Pilditch stadium in Pretoria on Saturday with the presentation of the official athletics day of the Down Syndrome Association Pretoria’s Sport Club.

Although the association has previously hosted athletics events, this was the first tournament to officially meet international standards.
The association’s Magda Lourens said people with Down syndrome were historically marginalised regarding participation in sport. She said this was why the association aimed to create sport opportunities for those with Down syndrome.

Last year, the association’s sport club hosted its first Down syndrome athletics day, the largest of its kind in South Africa. Around 300 athletes with Down syndrome gathered at the event.

Lourens said the association wanted to unite residents, families and people with Down syndrome through organised sport.

“Sport plays such a fundamental part in physical and mental development and skills learned during participation in sport contribute to the holistic development of the athlete,” said Lourens.

“Therefore, we want to encourage sportsmanship and healthy lifestyle in persons with Down syndrome.”

This year’s event showed huge growth against last year’s first attempt. About 450 athletes entered, which included various track and field items.  The youngest athletes were two years old. They participated in the u.6 category with athletes up to the age of five. Between them and the open category (25-year-olds plus), seven other age categories were accommodated on the programme.

On the track, the athletes participated in 60m, 80m, 100m and 200m sprints as well as 400m and 800m races. Provision was also made for walkers with an 800m item for younger athletes and a 1 500m for older participants. Field items such as long jump, shot-put, discus and javelin were also part of the programme.

Parents also got the chance to participate in the action in the pram race in which Down syndrome babies and toddlers were pushed in a pram by their parents. The kick bike race for toddlers with Down syndrome also provided great fun.

Lourens said the sport club recently affiliated with all the necessary official sports governing bodies and Saturday’s event could be regarded as official in all respects in terms of athletes’ achievements.

She said winners’ achievements would therefore be considered as provincial records, while athletes who improved national and African records would also get recognition.

Athletics Gauteng North also assisted them with the necessary equipment and logistical assistance to officially document top achievements. Anru Nel, a coach and official at the event, said there were some excellent performances, which could qualify as national and African records.

On the track all the participants enjoyed the day and they were encouraged by a large number of family and friends on the pavilion who turned up to support them.