Gold Medallist Van Dyk Ends 6th in Marathon as Team SA Wraps 2016 Paralympic Games

Seven-time Paralympian Ernst van Dyk wrapped up Team South Africa’s 2016 Paralympics with a sixth-spot finish in the wheelchair marathon on Sunday. And fellow ‘veteran’ Fanie van der Merwe was honoured as the team’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony later in the day. Van Dyk 43, who on Thursday had won gold in the […]

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. 18 September 2016. South Africa's Ernst van Dyk during the marathon of the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro today. Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA

Seven-time Paralympian Ernst van Dyk wrapped up Team South Africa’s 2016 Paralympics with a sixth-spot finish in the wheelchair marathon on Sunday.

And fellow ‘veteran’ Fanie van der Merwe was honoured as the team’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony later in the day.

Van Dyk 43, who on Thursday had won gold in the road race, ended with a time of 1hr 30min 11sec, the only South African competitor in action. Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won in 1:26.16.

‘Conditions were very extreme and the the heat was severe,’ said Van Dyk.

He added ‘I had a good position but then there was a Chinese girl that we lapped and she was bang in front of us and I went right back to the back of the bunch. That’s the thing with multiple loops… these things happen and it gets more complicated. Once the guys got a gap I yelled at the guys to help pull but I knew that was it.

‘But still it as a very good Games for me (fifth, first and sixth) and I also didn’t do any specific work for this race and was hoping for a bit of a slower race.’

Sunday’s results see Team South African end their 2016 Games with 17 medals – seven gold, six silver and four bronze.

That put them 22nd on the medals table. Four years ago in London, Team SA won 29 medals (eight gold, 12 silver and nine bronze) which put them 18th on the rankings.

Congratulations to all who participated!!! Here’s a wrap-up of the winners:

South Africa’s Gold Winners, Paralympics 2016 (7)

Charl du Toit

ATHLETICS MEN’S 100M – T37 and ATHLETICS MEN’S 400M – T37

Dyan Neille Buis

ATHLETICS MEN’S 400M – T38

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. 17 September 2016. South Africa's Dyan Buis during the 400m final of the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro today. Buis won the gold medal. Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA — RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. 17 September 2016. South Africa’s Dyan Buis during the 400m final of the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Buis won the gold medal. Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA

Reinhardt Hamman

ATHLETICS MEN’S JAVELIN THROW – F38

Hilton Langenhoven

ATHLETICS MEN’S LONG JUMP – T12

Ernst van Dyk

CYCLING ROAD MEN’S ROAD RACE H5

van-dyk

Kevin Paul

SWIMMING MEN’S 100M BREASTSTROKE – SB9

kevin-paul-paralympic-swimmer

Silver Medal Winners (6)

ATHLETICS MEN’S 100M – T12
NTUTU Ndodomzi Jonathan
ATHLETICS MEN’S 200M – T12
LANGENHOVEN Hilton
ATHLETICS MEN’S 200M – T42
MAHLANGU Ntando
ATHLETICS WOMEN’S 100M – T13
HAYES Ilse
ATHLETICS WOMEN’S 400M – T13
HAYES Ilse
ATHLETICS WOMEN’S 400M – T45/46/47
LIEBENBERG Anrune

Bronze Winners (4)

ATHLETICS MEN’S 100M – T37
VAN DER MERWE Fanie
ATHLETICS MEN’S LONG JUMP – T38
BUIS Dyan Neille
ATHLETICS MEN’S SHOT PUT – F42
PILLAY Tyrone
ATHLETICS WOMEN’S JAVELIN THROW – F53/54
SITU Ntombizanele

– See more at: http://www.sascoc.co.za/2016/09/18/van-dyk-sixth-in-marathon-as-team-sas-2016-games-come-to-an-end/

All photos sourced from SASCOC – Copyright pictures by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA