Para-canoeist makes waves
WELTEVREDEN PARK – Weltevreden Park resident Constant Olivier aims to complete the upcoming Fish River Marathon.
Paddlers battled it out at Centurion’s Nine Miler trek at the Rietvlei Dam on 25 July.
According to Gauteng Canoe Union spokesperson Jennie Dallas, “The annual Nine Miler traditionally is the kick-start event for the Fish Canoe Marathon.”
Weltevreden Park resident and para-canoeist Constant Olivier, who is a member of the Florida Lake Canoe Club, also showed off his racing skills.
Olivier was in a car accident in 1982 and has been a paraplegic since, however that did not keep him down.
Olivier has recently won two silver medals in the Gauteng Sprint Championships and also the SA Championships.
During the Nine Trek race, Olivier teamed up with Bertie Baard and finished the 18km in a time of 00:01:46:00.
“We are training hard for the Fish River Canoe Marathon in October,” he said.
“For me to successfully complete the Fish River Marathon will be a big team effort,” said the lively Olivier.
Olivier also advised that in order to prosper one needs to set goals, “You have to set goals and then work hard to achieve them – baby steps,” he said.
In August, Olivier will participate at the Tugela Marathon near Bergville where he will race for 60km, and in September he will race at the Liebensbergvlei event from Reitz to Tweeling in the Orange Free State as part of his training and preparation for the 80km Fish River Marathon.
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