Athletics Free State (AFS) has heaped praise on para athletics stars from the province who have been selected for the initial 26-strong team to represent South Africa at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in France.
It was announced on 8 July that the Free State boasts six ambassadors in the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) team: Karabo Cassius Morapedi (boccia); Matobako Vincent Ramochela (Morapedi’s BC3 ramp operator); Louzanne Coetzee (T11 1 500 m) and her two guides, Estean Badenhorst and Claus Kempen; as well as Marisa Potgieter, boccia team manager.
Morapedi is one of two members of the South African boccia team; the other being Elanza Jordaan from the Western Cape, with BC3 ramp operator Sandré Jordaan.
Also notable is that Coetzee is one of five women in the athletics team. The others are: Simone Kruger (T38 discus) from Gauteng; Sheryl James (T37 100 m, 200 m and 400 m) from Limpopo; Liezel Gouws (T37 200 m and long jump) from North West; and Yane van der Merwe (F44 discus) from Gauteng.
“We are pleased to inform our new minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, that in this year’s Para Olympics, two athletes of the Free State are also the only two who will represent South Africa in boccia, track events and the marathon in Paris. You are well represented already, sir,” said Steven Swarts, president of the AFS.
He said the inclusion of the personnel and competitors in the Paralympic team heralded a bright future for sports development in the province.
“The Free State is making history by having representation in the first South African boccia team at the Paralympics.
“This is testimony to the province having an abundance of talent, and the caliber of athletes capable of winning us medals.
“Most important is representing the country well, raising the flag of the country high and with pride.
Louzanne Coetzee with (middle) with her two guides, Estean Badenhorst and Claus Kempen;
“We really want to see more athletes supported in terms of sponsorship to unearth even more talented athletes.”
Swarts said what was even more pleasing was witnessing the sense of pride athletes show.
“There is a turn-around among our athletes; a feeling of ambassadorship of the Free State.”
Swarts is optimistic that athletes from the Free State will excel at this year’s Paralympic Games, scheduled to take place from 28 August to 8 September.
Coetzee, the Free State-based all-conquering blind runner, will be making her third Paralympic appearance.
Her first-ever was at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Paralympic Games in Brazil, with the second being at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, hosted in 2021. Khothatso Mokone was her guide in her maiden Paralympics in 2016.
At the Tokyo Paralympics, Coetzee won a silver medal in the T11 1 500 m final in a new Africa record of 4:40.96 and a bronze medal in the T12 women’s marathon in a new T11 world record time of 3:11:13.
Debutant Morapedi has backed his inclusion in the team with two medals: gold in the boccia BC3 pairs competition, and bronze in the individual category at the World Boccia African Regional Championships in Cairo, Egypt, hosted from 2 to 8 July.
