South Africa: A Great Comeback after Apartheid

South Africa first participated at the Paralympic Games in Rome 1960 and was represented thereafter until the tragic political decision to ban them from the 1980 games, which were staged in Arnheim. The isola-tion years came to an end at very short notice with re-admittance being granted for Barcelona 1992, where a team of ten individuals re-ignited the already established track record and credibility. They won four gold, one silver and three bronze medals – these accompanied by three world and one Paralympic record.

1994 witnessed the birth of the National Paralympic Committee of South Africa (NAPCOSA) and the start of a marketing campaign that would transpose sport for the disabled from a charitable "cap in hand" movement into the echelons of the South African sports industry. Sponsorships as opposed to donations were engaged and it is tribute to team sponsors Nedbank, Nike, Pick’n Pay, South African Airways and Mercedes Benz that 41 South Africans competed in the Atlanta Paralympic Games in 1996. Remarkably, they returned with ten gold, eight silver and ten bronze medals – six world and one Paralympic record.

That a nation cocooned in political isolation for so long could return to the fore with such might left the rest of the world amazed and astounded, they attained 15th place on the medal table. These amazing athletes established a solid platform and the public; media and corporate sectors began to view them in a very different light. In May 1998, Sun International, Telkom and Vodacom combined forces with the sponsors from 1996 to ensure an equal partnership program providing R10million (approx. US $ 1.800.000) for NAPCOSA to administer and provide opportunities for the build up to and including the Paralympic Games of Sydney 2000. So far 50 athletes have qualified yielding 66 medals at various events staged around the globe in 1998 and 1999. These events included Africa’s inaugural participation at the Paralympic Winter Games in Nagano where a solitary South African, Bruce Warner, a single leg amputee gained much credibility with his feats in the downhill slalom event.

In May 1999, local transport giant TRANSNET founded the Paralympic Development Trust to benefit disadvantaged disabled athletes in their chosen sports. This program has been complemented through the Nomads golf program sponsored by BoE Corporate bank where all funds raised are allocated to the Trust.

NAPCOSA is flourishing in the knowledge that the South Africans have adjusted their stance and provided opportunities for disabled athletes to aspire to greatness.

Andy Scott
Chief Executive Officer
Napcosa

Multiple Records Set at
South African Championships

As many as seven world records (which have yet to be recognized) and numerous South African records were broken at the Nedbank Millennium National Championships for athletes with a disability in March in Pretoria, South Africa, proving once again the incredible potential and talent of South Africa’s athletes.

One of these fantastic results was achieved by sprint specialist Pieter Badenhorst. He ran an amazing 23.56s to set a new world record in the 200m. These outstanding achievements guarantee him a place on South Africa’s shortlist for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

Badenhorst, who lost his full left arm and his lower right arm in an accident when he was six, competes in the T45 class. As there are not many athletes competing in this class, he has to participate in combined T45/T46 events at most of the major competitions. This means that he has to run in a field including competitors who have the full use of one arm, which is a disadvantage for him, as the use of the arms is essential in running. Despite this difficulty, Badenhorst has achieved outstanding results throughout his career. These include a gold medal in the 400m and a silver medal in the 200m at Barcelona 1992, bronze medals in the 200m and in the long jump at the World Championships 1994 in Berlin, and a world record in the 100m at the Paralympics Revival 1999 in Duderstadt.

Like all elite athletes with a disability, Badenhorst’s focus this year is firmly set on the Paralympic Games in Sydney and the preparations leading up to them. He aims to break both the 100m and 200m world records again, and to push the 100m world record below the 11-second mark.

"I’m not sure who said that attitude determines altitude and how high you fly," says Badenhorst, "but it works for me and we can all learn from it." His sporting career would be definitely worth following.