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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
T64
Further personal information
Family
Wife Carene, son Nua
Residence
Stellenbosch, RSA
Occupation
Accountant
Languages
Afrikaans, English
Higher education
Accounting - University of Stellenbosch: South Africa
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began the sport in 2006 in Bellville, South Africa.
Why this sport?
After a friend died in a motorcycle accident he realised his own accident could have been a lot worse. This gave him the inspiration to take up Para athletics. He had also loved sports from a young age and wanted a way to get back into sport after losing his leg.
Club / Team
Maties ParaSport Club: Stellenbosch, RSA
Name of coach
Suzanne Ferreira [club], RSA, from 2006
International debut
Year
2007
Competing for
South Africa
General interest
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (Athlete, 22 Oct 2015)
Most influential person in career
Coach Suzanne Ferreira. (Athlete, 22 Oct 2015)
Hero / Idol
Swiss tennis player Roger Federer, South African cricketer Hansie Cronje. (Athlete, 26 Jan 2011; Athlete, 22 Oct 2015)
Injuries
In 2014 he sustained a hamstring injury and he was unable to compete for 12 weeks. (ossur.co.za, 15 Aug 2014)
He did not compete at the 2013 Great City Games in Manchester, England, due to an infection in his leg. He underwent surgery to fix the problem in May 2013. (roadtorio.co.za, 25 May 2013)
In 2003 he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee while playing rugby. (ossur.com, 04 Nov 2010)
He did not compete at the 2013 Great City Games in Manchester, England, due to an infection in his leg. He underwent surgery to fix the problem in May 2013. (roadtorio.co.za, 25 May 2013)
In 2003 he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee while playing rugby. (ossur.com, 04 Nov 2010)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"A gold medal is a wonderful thing but if you're not enough without one, you will never be enough with one." (Athlete, 22 Oct 2015)
Other sports
He played competitive rugby union for Grey College in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and was signed by the Golden Lions before his accident. He also competed at the South Africa Disabled Golf Open. (ossur.com, 04 Nov 2010)
Impairment
His left leg was amputated below the knee after it got caught in a propeller in a boating accident in 2003. (whpsschool.com, 29 Jan 2013; Athlete, 22 Oct 2015)
Other information
FROM RUGBY TO ATHLETICS
He was preparing for a career as a professional rugby union player in South Africa with the Golden Lions before his accident in October 2003. "On the way to the hospital, these rugby thoughts were all making their way out of my life. It was like a whole bucket of cold water had been poured over me." After the death of a friend, he realised his accident could have been more serious and he still had a lot to live for, so he began to participate in para-sports. (ossur.com, 04 Nov 2010)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Since 2011 he has been an ambassador for Jumping Kids, a non-profit organisation that provides prosthetics for South African children living with lower extremity amputations from disadvantaged backgrounds. (jumpingkids.org.za, 10 Sep 2014; 30 Mar 2016)
OTHER STUDIES
In 2008 he completed an honours degree in accounting at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa. (coffeewithbee.co.za, 04 Apr 2016)
He was preparing for a career as a professional rugby union player in South Africa with the Golden Lions before his accident in October 2003. "On the way to the hospital, these rugby thoughts were all making their way out of my life. It was like a whole bucket of cold water had been poured over me." After the death of a friend, he realised his accident could have been more serious and he still had a lot to live for, so he began to participate in para-sports. (ossur.com, 04 Nov 2010)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Since 2011 he has been an ambassador for Jumping Kids, a non-profit organisation that provides prosthetics for South African children living with lower extremity amputations from disadvantaged backgrounds. (jumpingkids.org.za, 10 Sep 2014; 30 Mar 2016)
OTHER STUDIES
In 2008 he completed an honours degree in accounting at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa. (coffeewithbee.co.za, 04 Apr 2016)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m T44 | Heat 1 | 4 | ||
| Men's 100 m T44 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Men's 200 m T44 | Heat 1 | 3 | ||
| Men's 200 m T44 | Final Round | 6 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 200 m T44 | Heat 2 | 2011-01-23 | 2 | |
| Men's 200 m T44 | Final | 2011-01-24 | 3 | |
| Men's 100 m T44 | Heat 2 | 2011-01-25 | 1 | |
| Men's 100 m T44 | Final | 2011-01-26 | 4 | |
| Men's 4x100 m T42-46 | Final | 2011-01-29 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 200 m T44 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-01 | 2 | |
| Men's 200 m T44 | Final Round | 2012-09-02 | 4 | |
| Men's 4x100 m T42-46 | Final Round | 2012-09-05 | 1 | |
| Men's 100 m T44 | Heat 3 | 2012-09-05 | 1 | |
| Men's 100 m T44 | Final Round | 2012-09-06 | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 200 m T44 | Semifinal 1 | 2013-07-20 | 4 | |
| Men's 200 m T44 | Final 1 | 2013-07-21 | 4 | |
| Men's 100 m T44 | Semifinal 2 | 2013-07-22 | 4 | |
| Men's 100 m T44 | Final 1 | 2013-07-23 | 5 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m T44 | Heat 2 | 2015-10-29 | 3 | |
| Men's 100 m T44 | Final 1 | 2015-10-29 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m T44 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-08 | 2 | |
| Men's 100 m T44 | Final Round | 2016-09-09 | 4 | |
| Men's 200 m T44 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-11 | 5 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m T44 | Final 1 | 2017-07-16 | 5 | |
| Men's 100 m T44 | Heat 2 | 2017-07-16 | 4 | |
| Men's 200 m T44 | Heat 2 | 2017-07-21 | 1 | |
| Men's 200 m T44 | Final 1 | 2017-07-22 | 3 |