Cyclist Nicolas Pieter du Preez and the wheelchair tennis duo of Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole won bronze medals at the Paris Paralympics on Wednesday to increase South Africa’s medal tally to four.
Competing in the men’s H1 individual time trial, Du Preez managed to cross the finish line in a time of 36:07.05 to win the bronze medal.
All smiles as Pieter Du Preez receives his bronze medal! 🌟![CDATA[]]>🏅 Congratulations on this incredible achievement, Pieter. Your hard work and dedication have truly shone through. Well done! 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>👏
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) September 4, 2024
#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/Bv65LghrUH
Du Preez, a gold medallist at the Tokyo games, was paralysed from the chest down after being hit by a car back in 2003. Having partaken in a number of sporting disciplines since then, he became the first quadriplegic athlete to complete an Ironman.
His first appearance at the Paralympics was at the London games in 2012.
In the wheechair tennis quad doubles bronze match, Ramphadi and Sithole overcame the Brazilian pair of Leandro Pena and Ymanitu Silva 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 to secure a podium finish.
🥉 Bronze medal alert!🥉
Huge congratulations to Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole for clinching the bronze in the Quad Doubles!
Your incredible performance has brought home a medal.
Way to go, champions! 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🏆
🎾 #TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/SdpQLELQbD
In the para equestrian individual event Grade IV, Philippa Johnson-Dwyer flew the South African flag high as she finished 14th overall with a total score of 63.889.
Kerwin Noemdo also missed out on a podium place after finishing fifth in the man’s shot put - F46 final with a best throw of 15.63m.
In the pool, Christian Sadie placed fourth in heat 1 of the men’s 50m freestyle - S7 to book his place in the final. The final will take place at 7.06pm on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday morning, South Africa’s Alani Ferreira did not advance from the women’s 100m freestyle S12 after placing sixth in heat two.
Still to come on Wednesday
Sadie, along with Mpumelelo Mhlongo will be competing for a medal later on Wednesday night.
Mhlongo, who won the gold medal men’s 100m - T44 final on the weekend, will be hoping to walk away with another medal when he lines up in the men’s long jump - T64 final at 8.29pm.
At 9.45, Sheryl James will be hoping to advance to the final in the women 100m - T37.
IOL Sport