The Free State and South Africa’s all-conquering blind star runner Louzanne Coetzee added to her silverware cabinet another prestigious medal of the Paralympics on Monday, 2 September.
She won a bronze medal in the women’s 1 500 m race final with her guide Estean Badenhorst.
Coetzee won South Africa’s second medal in this edition of the Paralympic Games ongoing in Paris, France.
She was the second African athlete to take one of three prestigious medals. Her African counterpart, Ethiopian Yayesh Gate Tesfaw, claimed the gold in a new world record time of 4:27.68.
Coetzee’s bronze increased her Paralympics medal tally to three; also counting her achievements of earning a silver medal in the T11 1 500 m and a bronze medal in the T12 women’s marathon at the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics.
Inspired by the latest achievement, at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, the gutsy runner will continue her quest to writing her new chapter in the history of the Paralympic Games.
Coetzee, with her guide Claus Kempen, eye the glory of completing the gruelling 42,195 km of the Paralympic marathon taking place on Sunday. The upcoming road race will bring down the curtain on this instalment of the games.
The South Africa nation pinned its hopes on the pair, who will be attempting to continue making history.
At the Tokyo Paralympics, Coetzee finished on the podium and was rewarded with a bronze medal for a super effort to finish the T12 women’s marathon in a new world record time of 3:11:13.
Also notable is that Coetzee is one of five women representing the country at the Paralympics. The others are: Simone Kruger (T38 discus) from Gauteng; Sheryl James (T37 100 m, 200 m and 400 m) from Limpopo; Liezel Gouws (T37 200 m and long jump) from North West; and Yane van der Merwe (F44 discus) from Gauteng.
The Free State boasts six athletes at the Paralympics. They are: Karabo Cassius Morapedi (boccia); Matobako Vincent Ramochela (Morapedi’s BC3 ramp operator); Coetzee and her two guides, Badenhorst and Kempen, as well as Marisa Potgieter, boccia team manager.
Debutant Morapedi is still in the competition. He competed against vastly experienced opponents in the opening with silverware from previous Paralympic Games. They include Daniel Michel of Australia, who competed at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
The South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) announced the financial incentives for medallists were the same as they were for the abled-bodied Olympic 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.
