South Africa at the 2016 Summer Paralympics
| South Africa at the 2016 Summer Paralympics |
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| IPC code | RSA | ||||||||
| NPC | South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee | ||||||||
| Website | www |
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| in Rio de Janeiro | |||||||||
| Competitors | 45 in 10 sports | ||||||||
| Flag bearer |
Zanele Situ (opening) Fanie van der Merwe (closing) |
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Medals Ranked 22nd |
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| Summer Paralympics appearances | |||||||||
South Africa entered 45 athletes in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. The country qualified athletes in archery, athletics, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, powerlifting, rowing, swimming, shooting and wheelchair tennis.
In September 2015, a representative from the country attended the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Chef de Mission seminar as part of the country's preparation efforts for the 2016 Games.
For some South African sportspeople trying to qualify for Rio, the funding had to come out of their own pocket. This was the case for three-time equestrian Paralympian Philippa Johnson. There is a particular challenge with equestrian sport because, unlike able-bodied riders, para-riders do not get prize money at major international events. This despite the fact the sport has higher costs for participants with a disability. SASOC’s Operation Excellence (OPEX) does exist and for some South African Paralympians, it provides four years worth of support going into each new Paralympic cycle. 32% of the funded sportspeople in the program are para-sportspeople.
The South African team won a total of seventeen medals; seven gold, six silver and four bronze.
South Africa qualified one archer for the Rio Games following their performance at the 2015 World Archery Para Championships. Stephanus Lombaard earned the spot in the men's compound open after defeating sixth seeded Swiss archer Martin Imboden.
The athletics squad consists of seven women and thirteen men:
Ilse Hayes, Louzanne Coetzee, Liezel Gouws, Anrune Liebenberg, Zandile Nhlapo, Zanele Situ, Chenelle Van Zyl
Dyan Buis, Charl Du Toit, Arnu Fourie, Reinhardt Hamman, Hilton Langenhoven, Ntando Mahlangu, Mpumelelo Mhlongo, Jonathan Ntutu, Tyrone Pillay, Union Sekailwe, Fanie van der Merwe, Ernst van Dyk, Khothatso Mokone (Guide)
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