Being a Protea farmer, South Africa’s national symbol is closer to Sheryl James’s heart than most, and the Tokyo bronze medallist brandished the iconic flower with great pride again on Tuesday night, at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Tuesday, 3 September, 2024.
While James didn’t make a return to the podium this time around – finishing fourth in a time of 1:06.88, both she and teammate Liezel Gouws – who finished fifth in 1:08.33, relished the opportunity to represent the country at the Stade de France track.
“I’m just so happy with the privilege to have run and to have finished the race and to give it my all, so I’m very happy!”
Liezel Gouws after the Paralympic Games Women’s 400m Final
James stormed out of the blocks, going out hard in the first 200 metres, but then couldn’t maintain the pace as Ukraine’s Natalia Kobzar cruised to the gold in 1:00.92, China’s Fenfen Jiang the silver in 1:01.88r and Viktoriia Slanova (1:03.61) the bronze.
Asked whether the fast start was part of the plan, the Limpopo sprinter reckoned: “Probably not. But here we are, it happened. You’ve got to try keep up with these girls, you know.”
“I went into the blocks, I went out hard, I tried to keep up, here we are, I finished, I didn’t fall on my face.”
Sheryl James added with a laugh after the Paralympic Games Women’s 400m Final
For Gouws, it was an emotional end to her Paralympic campaign, as the Potchefstroom pharmacist was simply grateful to have been able to compete after picking up a grade 2 tear in her calf, at the team training camp just before heading to Paris.
Gouws gave credit to the Team SA doctors and physios for getting her to the start on Tuesday, and confirmed after the race that her plans to retire from the sport just after these Games had changed.
“I really thought I would retire after this, but I’m definitely not done!”
South African Track Paralympian, Liezel Gouws
“I think there’s still a lot more in me. I just finished my studies last year, I did my masters in pharmaceutical science, so I’m actually a full-time pharmacist as well,” said Gouws. “I’m doing my community service year until February next year, so I’m planning on not working full time after that and really giving the next four years to athletics and to see what we can do in LA.”
Earlier in the day, former swimmer turned track athlete Tezna Abrahams finished fifth in her T64 200m heat in a personal best time of 31.17 seconds, and didn’t make it through to the final. She was nevertheless thrilled with her performance considering she only took up the sport a year and a half ago.
“It was a little tough, the track’s a little bit wet, so not the most ideal conditions to run the 200 in,” she said afterwards.
“I’m very happy, I’m running with a couple of niggles right now so a PB is a really big win for me. I would have loved to have gone a bit faster, but we’re just very happy that I managed to finish with a decent time.”
Former swimmer turned track athlete, Tezna Abrahams
Abrahams said she had now set her sights firmly on LA2028.
“It’s going to be a lot harder four years upcoming, but it’s going to be fun,” she said. “It’ll give me enough time to learn the sport properly and a lot of better coaching leading up to LA so I’ll be in a much better position. Next time you’ll see me, you’ll see a medal. I’m not sure which colour yet, but obviously I’m going to aim for the gold.”
Over at La Defense Arena, Kat Swanepoel, who was one of the country’s flag-bearers at the Paralympic opening ceremony, was in record-breaking form in the S5 50m backstroke heats.
Despite dislocating her shoulder, Swanepoel finished sixth in an African record time of 49.63 seconds and, while she didn’t make it through to the evening final, she was also pleased with her day’s work.
“It was just an amazing experience to be in that arena and representing our country!”
SA Swimmer, Paralympian Kat Swanepoel
“Unfortunately not through to the finals but super-proud to have finished the race despite dislocating my shoulder in the middle of the race.”
In the Boccia, Elanza Jordaan and partner Karabo Morapedi found it tough going on the opening day of their mixed pairs BC3 preliminaries, going down 7-0 to Brazil and then 10-0 to Greece.
Original Copy: Karien Jonckheere, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: South Africa’s Sheryl James finishing fourth in the women’s 400m just ahead of teammate Liezel Gouws at the Paralympic Games at the Stade de France track in Paris on Tuesday, 3 September, 2024. Photo: Roger Sedres/TeamSA
Photo 2: Roger Sedres / Team SA
Photo 3: Roger Sedres / Team SA
Photo 4 Caption: Tezna Abrahams finished fifth in her T64 200m heat in a PB time of 31.17 seconds, but didn’t qualify for the final. Photo: Roger Sedres / Team SA
Photo 5 Caption: Kat Swanepoel swam to a new African record of 49.63s at the Paralympic Games at the La Defense Arena, missing out on the final. Photo: Roger Sedres / Team SA
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