By Joslyn Titus
Athletes with a disability are not put off by what they cannot do, but rather what they can do - set records, go to national championships and ultimately the Olympic Games.
Two Cape Town athletes are well on their way. Charlene Daniels and Hilton Langenhoven attend the Athlone School for the Blind.
Daniels has already been tipped as a future Olympic athlete, Langenhoven is not far off.
"I was one of 12 athletes identified as Olympic standard competitors. We attended the Sydney Games as part of the future athlete programme and got an idea of what the Olympics is all about. It was awesome," Daniels said.
Daniels is determined to be part of the national side for the next Olympics in Greece in 2004. And she's worked for recognition at a higher level. The 19-year-old had aspirations of becoming a psychologist before she convinced herself that she could make it as an athlete.
"That was in 1994 when I made the Western Province team for the first time. I realised then that I could make something of athletics. But I haven't given up my dream of studying psychology," she said.
She won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 400m and long jump that year and has since performed steadily.
Langenhoven has been impressive too. He took five golds at the Australian Junior championships in Brisbane last month and was also the fastest male athlete over 100m at that event.
"That was special for me because it was the first time I was selected for the national side. It certainly rates as one of the highlights in my career," he said.
In George, Pieter Koekemoer and Cazle Hendricks are also driven by their abilities and not their disabilities. Koekemoer lost his right leg and Hendricks his left arm in separate road accidents.
Both are with the new George club Carpe Diem of which former cricket captain Hansie Cronje is the chairman.
Koekemoer and Hendricks are newcomers to track and field.
"I lost my arm a year and a half ago. Initially it was a big adjustment but there are people who have lost both there legs and still take part," said 29-year-old Hendricks who competes in the sprints, discus and shot put events.
"Before I lost my arm I didn't understand people with a disability. Now I show more compassion and see things in a broader light," Hendricks said.
Hendricks' immediate goal is to do well enough at the Western Province championships in November to book his place at the national championships next year.
Koekemoer, a policeman, took to the track and field in October last year.
"In April I broke six records at the Police championships. After that event I wondered why I didn't start earlier," Koekemoer said.