Team SA was involved in six finals across two codes at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics on Wednesday. This is how they fared.
ATHLETICS
Men’s long jump (T38), final: Dyan Buis finished 10th and bowed out after three jumps. He had two no jumps and a second leap of 5.94m, which placed him 10th, albeit in a season’s best. “The Games have been amazing. I love what I do and am grateful for my career and accomplishments with the help of the Lord. It’s humbling. I hadn’t done long jump for four years due to knee injuries, before starting again late last year. Both my no jumps were beyond 6m, but my recorded 5.94m was still a season’s best, so I have to be happy with that.”
Men’s shot put, final (F46): Kerwin Noemdi finished fourth with an African record 15,65m, which was just 25cm off the bronze medal position. “The competition was tough. My goal was to get a PB, but these are my first Paralympic Games and I can’t be too upset with fourth and not getting a medal. I have been dreaming of going to a Games since my world champs debut in 2013 and in 2016 in Rio they didn’t have an event in my class. I’m looking forward to the cycle heading into Paris 2024.”
Men’s 400m, final (T37): Charl du Toit finished fifth but he played a full part in the fastest race ever run by Paralympic T37 athletes for the men’s 400m. Five years ago the Stellenbosch athlete had stopped the clock in 51.13sec, which had earned him the gold medal and new Paralympic record. Here, on an overcast but muggy Wednesday morning, he crossed the line in almost the same time, 51.14.
Men’s long jump, final (T64): Mpumelelo Mhlongo finished fifth after jumps of 6.41m, 6.62m, 6.32m, 6.80m (a season’s best), 6.69m and 6.35m. Mhlongo was 28cm behind the bronze medal position
Women’s 100m, heats (T37): Sheryl James finished third in her heat in an African record and PB 13.58 and she is through to the final
CYCLING
Men’s H5 road race: Ernst van Dyk crossed the line at the Fuji Speedway in 8th position in 2hr 36.23min in the 79.2km event
Men’s H1/2 road race: Time trial gold medallist Pieter du Preez “had fun” when finishing 7th in the race which ended at Fuji Speedway and which saw H1’s compete with H2’s