 |
| Welcome to BuaNews, the gateway to quick and fresh government news and information |
| Home | Today's stories | This week's stories | Last week's stories | Other Features | International News | User policy |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 09 Sep 2008 Title: SA earns five medals at 2008 Paralympic Games -------------------- Beijing - The South African Paralympic team is clearly on a winning streak - managing to put the country in fifth place on the gold-medal table. Swimmers Natalie du Toit and Charl Bouwer, equestrian jumper Phillipa Johnson and javelin thrower Nicholas Newman have earned five medals between them. Du Toit broke two world records for the women's 100m butterfly on Sunday and the 100m freestyle on Monday, earning herself two gold medals. She completed 100m butterfly with 1 minute 06.74 seconds and the 100m freestyle with 1 min 01.44 seconds. Following Du Toit's victory, Bouwer set a new world record and won the gold medal in the men's 400m freestyle with 4 min 14.02 seconds on Monday night. In the men's javelin on Monday night, Newman claimed the bronze medal for South Africa. Guo Wei from China took gold setting a new world record of 56.07m, while Piotrowski Pawei of Poland won the silver. In the Individual Championship Grade IV at the Shatin Equestrian Venue on Monday night, Johnson won the gold medal for South Africa. Johnson finished first on 69.290 percentage points, holding off a strong challenge from Norwegian athlete Lubbe Ann Cathrin, the gold medallist in the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. Cathrin took a silver on 68.516 points while Australian rider Bruce Georgia secured third place on 68.258 points. "I enjoyed the canter so much that I forgot I was supposed to trot," Johnson told reporters after the competition. On her horse Benedict's performance, Johnson said: "He was mind-blowing tonight. He gave me his full attention and both of us were more settled." On the upcoming Freestyle on Wednesday, Johnsons said, "Guys, hold onto your hats. That's my favourite. I love to dance, and he [her horse] loves to dance." Meanwhile, Cathrin said her horse Zanko was "very clever, fresh and he did what I asked of him. We both did our job better than yesterday." On preparations for the Freestyle, she said, "I will walk him tomorrow [Tuesday]. I will do the same thing to keep him fresh and happy. I don't care about the medals as long as my horse and I are happy." For her part, Georgia said, "I was very happy with my horse [V Salute] tonight. He took the pressure off the atmosphere. Bearing in mind that I've only ridden him for four weeks I did well considering that the other riders have known their horses for years." Johnsons is South African leading rider who won two silver medals at Athens 2004 - in the Individual championship and in Individual Freestyle. She also took home a silver and a bronze from the World Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships in Hartpury, England, 2007. South African riders have made sporting history for their country, forming its first equestrian team to take part in the Paralympics which opened Sunday at Shatin Equestrian arena. "This is the first time that South Africa has sent an equestrian team to the Paralympics. This team is making South African history," said Johnson. Dressage is the only Equestrian discipline included in the Paralympic Games. - BuaNews-Xinhua |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
