Cape Town - South Africa's Paralympians are ready for anything the Games might throw at them.
Aiming to bring home no fewer than 20 medals, eight of them gold, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) chief executive Tubby Reddy said the 45 athletes were ready to showcase their talents.
Zanele Situ, who will be participating in her fifth Paralympics, is the country’s official flag-bearer.
Situ takes part in javelin, shot put and discus, and was the first black athlete to win a Paralympic gold medal in the 2000 Paralympics.
“She is one of the most decorated Paralympians and has raised the profile of black female Paralympians over the years and has consistently performed well and is ranked third in the world. She was a recipient of the National Order of Ikhamanga Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2003,” Reddy said.
Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais will be in Rio to support the athletes.
“I’m elated that our national flag- bearer, Zanele Situ, calls the Western Cape home, as well as the other 17 athletes who make up 40 percent of Team SA, because they have and will continue to be the leading examples to our youth,” Marais said.
Western Province Association for the Physically Disabled and Visually Impaired executive Vivienne Hamman said Situ was a great ambassador for sport.
She is also proud of Mpumelelo Mhlongo, Goldy Fuchs, Reinhardt Hamman and Justine Asher, taking part in the Games for the first time.
“Zanele has represented South Africa at four Paralympic Games and won quite a number of medals in her disciplines, namely, javelin, shot put and discus,” Hamman said.
The Games start on September 7.