With just 51 days to go to the start of the Paralympic Games in Paris, the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced an initial squad of 26 women in Team SA in Johannesburg, on Monday, 8 July, 2024.
The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris will be staged from 28 August to 8 September, and the qualification windows remain open for a number of codes, including Para Athletics, Para Judo, Para Triathlon and Wheelchair Tennis, which means that more names will be added before the team departs for Paris in August.
The squad is made up of a mixture of experienced and first-time Paralympians, including three athletes who medaled for SA at Tokyo 2020, including Louzanne Coetzee (athletics, 1 silver, 1 bronze) and Sheryl James (athletics, 1 bronze). Gold medallist Anrune Weyers has since retired.
“It always brings great pleasure to announce any team that will represent South Africa at a multi-coded Games, with the Paralympics being the pinnacle for any athlete.”
SASCOC President, Barry Hendricks
Hendricks added that, as a means to reward the performance of the athletes, the same financial incentives in place for Olympic medalists would apply for Paralympic medalists.
SASCOC CEO Nozipho Jafta, said of the squad: “Team South Africa has always competed with pride and excellence at the Paralympics. This edition we expect similar.”
“The initial squad represents the best of the best and we are hopeful that our athletes will continue to add to the country’s reputation at the Paralympics. We wish them every success and assure them that they have the support of the entire nation behind them.”
SASCOC CEO, Nozipho Jafta
Patience Shikwambana was also announced as the Chef de Mission for Team SA, where she will be in charge of the delegation heading out to Paralympic Games in Paris.
The Initial Team SA Squad at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Athletics
Simoné Kruger (T38 discus)
Sheryl James (T37 100m, 200m, 400m)
Louzanne Coetzee (T11 1500m, Marathon)
Liezel Gouws (T37 200m, Long Jump)
Yané van der Merwe (F44 Discus)
Management: Lappies Swanepoel, Jason Sewanyana, Michael Louwrens, Daniel Damon
Boccia
Elanza Jordaan (BC3)
BC3 ramp operator: Sandre Jordaan
Management: Reinet Barnard, Marisa Potgieter
Equestrian
Philippa Johnson-Dwyer
Groom: Christiaan Haazen
Management: Ingeborg Sanne
Swimming
Alani Ferreira (S12 400m Freestyle, SB12 100m Breaststroke, SM12 200m Individual Medley, S12-S13 100m Butterfly)
Danika Vyncke (SB13 100m Breaststroke)
Kat Swanepoel (SM5 200m Individual Medley, S5 50m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, SB4 100m Breaststroke, S14 400m Freestyle)
Management: Theo Verster, Chad Peterson, Julayga Cassim
Financial Incentives for Medallists (Same as for the Paris 2024 Olympics Medallists)
Gold Medal Winners: R400,000
Silver Medal: R200,000
Bronze Medal: R75,000
* Guides for visually impaired athletes will receive the same pay-outs as coaches
Boccia
Gold Medal Winners: R200,000 per athlete
Silver Medal: R100,000 per athlete
Bronze Medal: R40,000 per athlete
Original Content: SASCOC, with editing by gsport
Main Photo caption: With 51 days to go to the start of the Paralympic Games in Paris, the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced an initial squad of 26 to represent South Africa in Johannesburg, on Monday, 8 July, 2024. Photo: Sport Arts and Culture on X
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