A Maties ParaSport club member won a bronze medal at the 2023 World Para Athletics (WPA) Championship.
Visual 1: The Maties ParaSport club is situated at the Coetzenburg Athletics Stadium (pictured above), said Wentzel Barnard, Maties ParaSport sports manager. Two club members were selected to represent South Africa at the recent World Para Athletics (WPA) Championships, said Barnard. PHOTO: Joseph Bracken
The Championship took place between 8 and 17 July in Paris, France, according to Wentzel Barnard, Maties ParaSport sports manager.
Kerwin Noemdo, the competing athlete, told SMF News that it was his fourth WPA Championship. The placement he received for his performance in the men’s F46 shot put category is the best result he has achieved at a major event, said Noemdo.
Kerwin Noemdo finished third in the men’s shot put (F46) at the 2023 World Para Athletics (WPA) Championship, said Wentzel Barnard, Maties ParaSport sports manager. PHOTO: Sourced/Wentzel Barnard
For family and country
There are usually two World Championships between the Paralympics that occur every four years, explained Barnard. The Paralympics are the “ultimate goal”, he said.
Wentzel Barnard explains the process two Maties para-athletes, Kerwin Noemdo and Brandon Beack, had to go through to qualify for the 2023 World Para Athletics (WPA) Championship in France. VIDEO: Joseph Bracken
“I know I could’ve done much better, and if I was at my best I could have ended up in a better position, possibly even gold,” said Noemdo.
The lack of regular funding for South African athletes to perform in international competitions hindered Noemdo’s performance potential, said Noemdo.
Another athlete from the Maties ParaSport club also participated in the championship, said Barnard. Brandon Beack placed seventh in both the 100m and 400m men’s T52 wheelchair race, he said. Beack also competed in the 1500m men’s wheelchair race, and finished eighth.
“I am so extremely proud of how I performed despite my odds in the races,” said Brandon Beack (pictured above). Beack was selected to compete in the 2023 World Para Athletics (WPA) Championship. PHOTO: Sourced/Brandon Beack
The athletes were selected for the national team based on their local-level competition times, said Barnard.
“It’s a privilege having my family’s name up on the boards and on the television,” said Noemdo.
‘Looking forward’
“The competition was good [and] well organised,” said Daniel Damon, Noemdo’s athletic coach.
It’s humbling to compete against such incredible athletes, said Baeck. “To wear the green and gold is always an honour. It’s bewildering to think that all my training finally got me here,” said Baeck.
“We are proud of the consistent performance and success of our athletes, coaches, and support staff and we thank Stellenbosch University for the ongoing investment in our high-performance programme. We are looking forward to [the] Paris 2024 [Paralympics],” said Ilhaam Groenewald, chief director of Maties Sport in an email to SMF News.
“We offer a variety of different options that cater to many different disabilities,” said Wentzel Barnard, Maties ParaSport sports manager. GRAPHIC: Joseph Bracken