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

Home » More Gold, Silver and a Record from Team South Africa in Rio

More Gold, Silver and a Record from Team South Africa in Rio

The national rugby team might not have given much reason for celebration on Saturday but South Africa’s Paralympic team continued to rake in the medals on the other side of the world; and Dyan Buis broke a Paralympic record. While the Springboks went down to New Zealand, Buis and Hilton Langenhoven helped maintain Team SA’s […]

By SAPeople
18-09-16 10:04
in Fab South African Stuff
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

The national rugby team might not have given much reason for celebration on Saturday but South Africa’s Paralympic team continued to rake in the medals on the other side of the world; and Dyan Buis broke a Paralympic record.

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 today. Buis won the gold medal. Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA

While the Springboks went down to New Zealand, Buis and Hilton Langenhoven helped maintain Team SA’s momentum on the medals table in Rio de Janeiro.

Buis joined Charl du Toit and Ilse Hayes as a double medal winner as he added T38 400m gold to his long jump bronze while Langenhoven loped to silver in the T12 200m in a time of 22.43.

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

Making it even better a day for Buis was the fact that his 49.46sec win was a Paralympic record.

‘It was quite emotional for me out there because I knew we’d worked hard this season.’ said Buis. ‘It was marvellous. My lane draw was perfect and I fed on the runners in front of me – especially the Tunisian and Chinese guy, and then the last 200m I attacked.

‘I have to give credit to coach Suzanne Ferreira and the team around me like the physios, stakeholders and and my gym coach.

‘Tonight I also wanted to run for my wife Erna and little daughter, Jinne, which was huge motivation.

‘As for the future I’m just going to take it as it comes. I’m not thinking of quitting right now but I also have to focus on my teaching career… I need a job right now, so come on guys, if there’s anyone listening out there.

‘I’ll go home a very happy man. The last four years weren’t the easiest of my life but I’m just happy that it all worked well today.’

Some trivia pertinent to Saturday’s celebration was that Buis attended Hoërskool Langenhoven in Riversdale!

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. 18 September 2016. South Africa'sHilton Langenhoven during the 200m final of the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro today. Langenhoven won the silver medal. Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. 18 September 2016. South Africa’sHilton Langenhoven during the 200m final of the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro today. Langenhoven won the silver medal. Copyright picture by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN / SASPA

 Just as happy was ‘veteran’ Langenhoven after his Games had started off with the disappointment of disqualification in the 400m. He was beaten to gold by Cuba’s Leinier Savon Pineda who won in 22.23.

‘I’m delighted to end off the Games for me with a silver… This was going to be my last race but now I’m thinking of World Champs next year where I’ll focus on the long jump.

’It was a bit disappointing start to the Games with that disqualification but  now I’m chuffed, and I’ll take a silver any day… we hadn’t really focused on the 200m – it was more for speed-endurance for that 400m.

‘But gold and silver for me is fantastic.. I’ve got seven Paralympic medals now so you an say that I’m in seventh heaven!’

As for the future. ‘Well, we’ll take it to forward the Commonwealth Games and thinking even further ahead, if long jump is part of the schedule in Tokyo… why not,’ he laughed.

The team’s two extra medals on Saturday helped South Africa maintain 22nd on the honours table and they now boast 17 medals – seven gold, six silver and four bronze.

– See more at: http://www.sascoc.co.za/2016/09/18/dyan-hilton-help-team-sa-to-two-more-medals-in-rio/