In a committed effort to take para-athletes to greater heights, the University of the Free State (UFS) has appointed the all-conquering blind athlete Louzanne Coetzee as its coordinator of parasport.
The institute on Thursday (09/02) announced the inclusion of the multiple medal and award winner as a member of the university’s KovsieSport team.
In 2021, she was also selected as a representative for the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD).
Coetzee (29), a proud product and ambassador of the UFS, is expected to inspire and help the next generation of para-athletes to surpass all expectations.
Her appointment recognises her contribution to raising the profile of sport for people with disabilities in South Africa, having represented the country internationally and excelling on these occasions.
Coetzee has climbed seemingly impossible heights and raised South Africa’s flag on the global stage. In 2021, she won a silver (1 500 m; T11) and bronze (marathon; T12) medal at the Paralympics in Tokyo. Together with this achievement in the 1 500 m, she set an African record of 4:40.96. Previously, in 2019, she had attained a record-breaking feat when the South African 1 500 m record in the T11 classification had her name written next to it.
According to Jerry Laka, director of KovsieSport, the Paralympic medallist will look after and coordinate parasport at the university.
Laka said the talented runner would provide support to UFS students, seize opportunities, and promote and develop parasport.
“Parasport forms part of the strategic objectives of KovsieSport, and making sure students are able to participate in sporting activities.
“We try to be inclusive in what we do in our different sporting clubs in order to contribute to the bigger picture of parasport in the province, and also in the country,” said Laka.
Coetzee believes there is a range of view for the growth of parasport at Kovsies.
“It is an honour for me to be a part of the start of it and help drive it forward. For me to work in sport is really great and I am very excited to be part of KovsieSport,” said Coetzee.
