Paralympic heroes return home from Rio
The South African Paralympics team returned to the country today (Tuesday), after competing in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
The team has done South Africans proud, collecting 17 medals, more than the SA Olympics team brought home.
Of the 17 medals, seven are gold, six are silver and four are bronze.
The gold medal winners are:
• (Swimming) Kevin Paul (25), from Durban, born with Poland Syndrome, competed in the men’s 100m breaststroke.
• (Athletics) Hilton Langenhoven (33), from Cape Town, born with 20 per cent vision, competed in the men’s long jump.
• (Athletics) Charl du Toit (23), from Stellenbosch, diagnosed with cerebral palsy after complications of birth, won two gold medals, in the men’s 100m and 400m.
• (Cycling Road) Ernst van Dyk (43), from Paarl, born without legs, competed in the men’s road race.
• (Athletics) Reinhardt Hamman (26), from Cape Town, diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age five, competed in the men’s javelin throw.
• (Athletics) Dyan Buis (25), from Stellenbosch, born with cerebral palsy, competed in the men’s 400m.
The silver medal winners are:
• (Athletics) Ilse Hayes (31), from Stellenbosch, diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease at age seven, received two silver medals, in the women’s 100m and 400m.
• (Athletics) Ntando Mahlangu (14), from Mpumalanga, born with underdeveloped bones in both legs which had to be amputated below the knees, competed in the men’s 200m.
• (Athletics) Anruné Liebenberg (23), from Stellenbosch, whose left arm was amputated at birth, competed in the women’s 400m.
• (Athletics) Jonathan Ntutu (30), from Cape Town, lost his sight at birth, competed in the men’s 100m.
• (Athletics) Hilton Langenhoven won a silver medal on top of a gold medal, after competing in the men’s 200m.
The bronze medal winners are:
• (Athletics) Fanie van der Merwe (30), from Stellenbosch, born with cerebral palsy, competed in the men’s 100m.
• (Athletics) Tyrone Pillay (36), from Durban, whose left leg was amputated as a result of being born with an impairment to his foot, competed in the men’s shot put.
• (Athletics) Ntombizanele Situ (45), from Stellenbosch, became paralysed after a two-year semi-coma due to a tuberculosis infection in her spinal cord, competed in the women’s javelin throw.
• (Athletics) Dyan Buis bagged a bronze medal on top of his gold medal, after competing in the men’s long jump.
The South African team for the Olympic Games in Rio, brought home 10 medals
Springsites made their pride known on the Springs Advertiser’s WhatsApp line.
Mari van Zyl: “So very proud of them. Well done!”
Lynne Sutton: “They all made us proud, congratulations to those who brought medals back.”
Cathy de Beer: “So trots op ons Paralympics. Baie geluk aan hul almal.”
Elva Kroukamp: “South Africa can be proud and grateful for these paralympiads.”
Marlene Govender: “Awesome! Good shot everyone, we are proud of you.”
Yusuf Asmal: “I’m actually quite saddened at the fact that there was not as much emphasis and hype placed on the paralympics as was on the able-bodied Olympics.”
Gerty Prinsloo: “That is wonderful, we are proud of them. Well done.”
Manuela de Villiers: “Well done. What courage these people have. They are an example to all able-bodied people. How impressive.”
Sonja du Plooy: “I think it’s wonderful for the paralympiads to do so great, it gives them hope to do even better next time.”
Sarie van Niekerk: “Very proud of them.”
