Louzanne Coetzee and her guide, Claus Kempen
Roger Sedres/Gallo Images
- We’re 51 days away from the Paris Paralympic Games, which gets underway from 28 August to 8 September.
- On Monday Sascoc announced an initial squad of 26 to represent Team South Africa
- Sascoc also revealed the incentives for the Paralympic medallists.
- For more more on Olympic sports, visit our dedicated page.
With only 51 days to go to the Paris Paralympic Games, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) announced an initial squad of 26 to represent Team SA.
The 2024 Paralympic Games will be staged from 28 August to 8 September in Paris.
Many still have the opportunity to qualify for the Paralympics, including Para Athletics, Para Judo, Para Triathlon and Wheelchair Tennis, which means that more names will be added before the team departs in August.
At the Tokyo Paralympics, South Africa ended with seven Paralympic medals – four gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
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The 26 athletes announced on Monday represent seven different sporting codes, and the squad is made up of a mixture of experienced and first-time Paralympians, including three medallists from Tokyo Paralympics.
Those medallists are Pieter du Preez (cycling, 1 gold), Louzanne Coetzee (athletics, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and Sheryl James (athletics, 1 bronze).
Double gold medallist Ntando Mahlangu will, unfortunately, not travel to Paris as his main event (men’s T61 200m) has been scrapped and the 22-year-old didn’t qualify for his long jump class.
Sascoc president Barry Hendricks also confirmed the Paris Paralympic incentives for athletes and their support staff (guides, etc).
The financial incentives for medallists are the same as for the Paris Olympics athletes.
Athletes who win gold will be awarded R400 000, with the coach receiving R100 000.
Silver medallists will earn R200 000 and R50 000, while the bronze medal pay-outs will be R75 000 and R25 000 for the athlete and coach, respectively.
Guides for the visually impaired athletes will also receive the same pay-outs as the coaches of those athletes that earn a medal.
Team SA Paris Paralympic squad so far:
Archery: Shaun Anderson (W1)
Athletics:
Men: Mpumelelo Mhlongo (T44 100m and long jump), Kerwin Noemda (F46 shot put), Puseletso Mabote (T63 100m and long jump), Collen Mahlalela (T47 400m), Khumo Pitso (T46 high jump), Jaco Smit (T12 100m), Daniel du Plessis (T62 400m), Hermanus Blom (F12 shot put), Erasmus Badenhorst (guide, 1500m), Claus Kempen (guide, marathon)
Women: Simone Kruger (T38 discus), Sheryl James (T37 100m, 200m, 400m), Louzanne Coetzee (T11 1500m and marathon), Liezel Gouws (T37 200m and long jump), Yane van der Merwe (F44 discus)
Boccia: Karabo Cassius Morapedi (BC3), Matobako Vincent Ramochela (BC3 ramp operator), Elanza Jordaan (BC3), Sandre Jordaan (BC3 ramp operator)
Cycling: Pieter du Preez
Equestrian: Philippa Johnson-Dwyer, Christiaan Haazen (groom)
Swimming:
Men: Nathan Hendricks (S13 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke, SB13 100m breaststroke), Christian Sadie (S7 50m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle, SM7 200m individual medley)
Women: Alani Ferreira (S12 400m freestyle, SB12 100m breaststroke, SM12 200m Individual Medley, S12-S13 100m butterfly), Danika Vyncke (SB13 100m breaststroke), Kat Swanepoel (SM5 200m Individual Medley, S5 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, SB4 100m breaststroke, S14 400m freestyle)
Wheelchair tennis: Alwande Sikhosana
