Johanna Benson of Namibia crosses the line to win gold ahead of silver medallist Bethany Woodward of Great Britain in the Women's 200m T37 Final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games
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Silver medallist Bethany Woodward of Great Britain, gold medallist Johanna Benson of Namibia and bronze medallist Maria Seifert of Germany pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women's 200m T37 Final at the London Paralympics
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Five months after she was born in 1990, Benson was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after her parents noticed that the right side of her body was weaker.
The Namibian took up athletics in 2006 and four years later won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, an achievement that landed her the “Disabled Sportswoman of the year” award back home in Namibia.
At the London 2012 Paralympic Games she became a national hero by becoming Namibia’s second athlete - and first female athlete - to win a Paralympic medal and also the first to win gold at either an Olympic or Paralympic Games.
In her first event, the 100m T37, she took silver (14.23), just 0.15 behind eventual winner Mandie Francois-Elie from France.
Days later she wrote her name in the history books with victory in the 200m (29.26) ahead of Great Britain’s Bethany Woodward (29.65).
“Personally, I am overwhelmed by the record that I have set by becoming the first gold medallist for Namibia. I would like to ask Namibians to take Paralympic sport to heart by contributing so that we can achieve more success in Rio 2016,” she said.
Fittingly Frank Fredericks, who won four medals for Namibia at the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996, handed Benson her gold medal at the medal ceremony.
Due to her success in London, Benson was nominated for “Laureus World Sportperson of the year with a Disability” in 2013.
