The loyal supporters of Jaco Smit, Humansdorp’s own visually impaired para-athlete, are overjoyed to watch him compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which kicked off on August 28, and will run until September 8.
In 1992, Gail Cillie, now retired, was a founding member of non-profit organisation, Retina South Africa’s Eastern Cape branch.
She had the privilege of meeting Smit 19 years ago while he was a Grade 8 learner at Humansdorp Secondary School.
Cillie, who has first-hand experience with retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease causing varying degrees of blindness, ensured he received proper diagnosis and education.
She also facilitated Smit’s access to resources, including spectacles to enhance his limited vision, and provided regular counselling sessions.
“It is often challenging to understand the way you see when you have been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa,” said Cillie.
She recalled that Smit had a passion for sport from a young age, and as a boy expressed a keen interest in participating in track events, laying the foundation for his future athletic pursuits.
Cillie said the next step was to determine the most suitable sport for Smit to participate in, given his retinitis pigmentosa, and to find accessible training facilities that could accommodate his needs.
She also played a crucial role in ensuring Smit’s correct classification for national and international sporting events, taking into account his specific eye disease, to ensure he was competing against athletes with similar abilities and visual impairments.
Since Cillie belonged to the Achilles Amateur Athletics Association, she connected him with the club’s athletes, who enthusiastically offered their support and guidance, marking the beginning of his remarkable journey as a para-athlete.
“It has been a long and challenging journey to witness a remarkable young man succeed in sport,” said Cillie.
Identifying him as a hardworking and dedicated person, she said she never doubted that he would one day participate in the Paralympics.
“I felt deep down in my heart that this year was going to be the year that he participates in the Paralympics,” said Cillie.
“When he told me that he qualified for the Paralympics I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. All I wanted to do was thank God, thank all the people that paved the way for him, and thank Jaco for the person that he is.”
Despite their age difference, she said that Smit has always been a source of inspiration.
To celebrate his achievements, Cillie’s husband, Hayward, hosted a farewell event on July 31 at his bar, Phase 8 Pub in Lorraine, Gqeberha, before he left for Paris.
Hayward also surprised Smit by sponsoring his South African Para-Athlete sports blazer ahead of the Paralympic Games, which he handed over at the event.
Cillie said the guests included people who supported Smit over the years, such as accomplished athletes from Achilles Amateur Athletics Association and the vice-president of the South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled, Jean Miggels.
“The event was a celebration with all those who are closely linked to Jaco and his journey,” said Cillie.
