“When you sit on the water and you paddle with your friends, or alone – that is freedom! When you are in your boat, we are equal, there is no disability,” said paraplegic 2017 World Champion Marathon paddler and whitewater adventurer, Constant Olivier.
Constant learned to kayak at the Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC), and was the first ever paraplegic to do river races in South Africa, including the Tugela River and the Fish River Marathon, which is a two-day 80km event.
He welcomed and motivated the Jumping Kids Ambassadors and Mandeville Para Swimmers to the Pretoria Sailing Club (PSC), Centurion Canoe Club (CCC), and 50th Rietvlei Sea Scouts, based at Rietvlei Dam in the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria, during the inaugural Adaptive Sailing and Canoeing event on March 16.
These clubs united to host a group of youngsters from the Jumping Kids project, all with a variety of disabilities and mobility impairments, offering them an unforgettable experience on the water.
A team of dedicated volunteers, comprising of the organizing clubs’ members, members of the Turke club and Dabulamanzi Canoe Club (DABS), as well as two members from FLCC, Shelley Robertson and Hardus Theunissen facilitated the event. The Turke is a group of ex-sportsmen and businessmen who aim to raise support and awareness for disabled sport.
The day’s activities included a kayaking session where all participants could try out different kayaks tailored to their physical ablities and confidence levels, an opportunity to experience the joy of sailing as well as being in control by steering the boats as well. The 50th Rietvlei Sea Scouts included the participants in some of their exciting activities, further immersing themselves in the maritime experience.
Jennie Dallas, the public relations officer for the Gauteng Canoe Union, said, “Beyond providing a memorable experience for the Jumping Kids, this event served as part of a broader disability sensitization program for PSC and CCC members, highlighting the importance of adaptive sailing and canoeing. The event organizers emphasized the need for funding to improve the accessibility of venues like Rietvlei dam, ensuring that individuals of all abilities can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of water sports.”
