Olympics | SASCOC names initial Paris 2024 Paralympic squad
On Monday, 8th July, with 51 days to go to the start of the Paralympic Games in Paris, the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) announced an initial squad of 26 to represent Team South Africa.
The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris will be staged from the 28th of August to the 8th of September.
Qualification windows haven’t closed for a number of codes, including Para Athletics, Para Judo, Para Triathlon and Wheelchair Tennis, which means that more names to be added before the team departs for Paris in August.
The 26 athletes announced represent seven different sporting codes, and the squad is made up of a mixture of experience and first-time Paralympians, including three medallists from Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021).
Those medallists, and their sport and the medal(s) they brought home from Tokyo 2020 are: Pieter du Preez (cycling, 1 gold), Louzanne Coetzee (athletics, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and Sheryl James (athletics, 1 bronze). There were a total of seven Team SA medals in Tokyo. Gold medallist Anrune Weyers has since retired, and double gold medallist Ntando Mahlangu is, unfortunately, not travelling to Paris as his main event (men’s T61 200m) has been scrapped; and he didn’t qualify for his long jump class.
In congratulating the athletes that have been announced, Barry Hendricks, President of SASCOC had this to say: “It always brings great pleasure to announce any team that will represent South Africa at a multi-coded Games, with the Paralympics being the pinnacle for any athlete”.
He then went on to announce that, as a means to reward the performance of the athletes, financial incentives would be put in place. The financial incentives for medallists are the same as they are for the Paris 2024 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 payouts will be R75,000 and R25,000 for the athlete and coach, respectively.
To recognise the unique nature of the Paralympics, guides for the visually impaired athletes will also receive the same payouts as the coaches of those athletes that earn a medal.
For boccia, where Team SA will be competing, the following incentives will apply:
R 200,000 per athlete and R 100,000 for the coach for a gold medal;
R 100,000 per athlete and R 5,000 for the coach for a silver medal;
R 40,000 per athlete and R 20,000 for coach for a bronze medal.
SASCOC CEO Nozipho Jafta, said of the squad: “Team South Africa has always competed with pride and excellence at the Paralympics. This edition we expect similar. The initial squad represents the best of the best and we are hopeful that our athletes will continue to add to the country’s reputation at the Paralympics. We wish them every success and assure them that they have the support of the entire nation behind them.”
Ms Patience Shikwambana was also announced as the Chef de Mission for Team SA, where she will be in charge of the delegation heading out to Paralympic Games in Paris.
The initial squad representing Team SA at the Paris 2024 Paralympics is:
ARCHERY (1)
Men: Shaun Anderson (W1)
Management: Barbara Manning
ATHLETICS (15)
Men: Mpumelelo Mhlongo (T44 100m and long jump), Kerwin Noemdo (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)
Management: Lappies Swanepoel, Jason Sewanyana, Michael Louwrens, Daniel Damon
BOCCIA (2)
Men: Karabo Cassius Morapedi (BC3), Matobako Vincent Ramochela (BC3 ramp operator)
Women: Elanza Jordaan (BC3), Sandre Jordaan (BC3 ramp operator)
Management: Reinet Barnard, Marisa Potgieter
CYCLING (1)
Men: Pieter du Preez
Management: Mark Williams (mechanic), Ilse du Preez
EQUESTRIAN (1)
Women: Philippa Johnson-Dwyer, Christiaan Haazen (groom)
Manager: Ingeborg Sanne
SWIMMING (5)
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)
Management: Theo Verster, Chad Peterson, Julayga Cassim
WHEELCHAIR TENNIS (1)
Men: Alwande Sikhosana
