Cape Town - After years of hard work, professional surfer Bianca Buitendag and table tennis star Theo Cogill, both hailing from the Western Cape, will represent the country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics respectively.
Bonteheuwel table tennis talent Theo Cogill’s dream has finally come true as he gears up for the Paralympics, becoming the first in his community to do so.
In 2017, the now 34-year-old won the Taiwan Open and was a finalist in the African Championships.
In 2018 he was a semi-finalist at the Commonwealth Games.
“I never had the opportunity to go to the Paralympics because it is so difficult to qualify. They monitor every tournament you go to and you need a lot of points,” he said.
“In 2018 was the qualification; if you won, you qualified. I made it to the final, but I didn’t win. Then my federation motivated for me to be on the team based on my profile, because I have won some major tournaments, and by some miracle I was chosen.”
Cogill said he was stabbed in 2011 and could not walk for two years.
“I could not move properly, so I had to stop playing. When I started playing again, I did the test and they said I would be able to play in the Paralympics.”
Local surfer Bianca Buitendag said the postponement of 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to later this month allowed her another year of uninterrupted preparation, and she was feeling well rested and physically more prepared than ever before.
Buitendag, 27, from South Coast surfing spot Victoria Bay near George, qualified for the Games - set to take place between July 23 and August 8 - and will be representing South Africa alongside Jordy Smith.
Surfing is being featured in the Tokyo Olympics for the first time.
Buitendag has been competing on the World Surfing League (WSL) Championship Tour from 2013 to 2019 as South Africa’s top female surfer.
In 2019 she was the captain of the South African team at the International Surfing Association (ISA) 2019 World Championships, where she finished third, and subsequently qualified for the Olympic Games.
Out of the water, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting Management attained at North-Eastern University in Boston in the US.
Preparing during various lockdown levels had been interesting, Buitendag said.
“We have definitely found a way to move past the obstacles of lockdown. When the beaches are closed, we focus more on personal training indoors, and vice versa.
“The event postponement has actually allowed us another year of uninterrupted preparation. We are usually so busy with event schedules that event prep takes a back seat. However, last year we had time to reset, refocus and really work towards our performance ambitions. So I am feeling good mentally, well rested and physically more prepared than ever before.
“I am very grateful to be able to represent such a beautiful country, and very grateful for (the) support,” she said.
Cape Times