South Africa’s Ernesta Strydom has been appointed as an International Para Athletics Technical Official yet again, where she will play ref for the world’s best para-athletes:
Global (24 July 2024) — We can hardly believe that the countdown to the Paris Olympics has dwindled to only a few hours until showtime while the Paralympics is only a handful of weeks away. The time has flown fiercely, our athletes are amped and South Africa is as ready as ever to show the world what we’ve got. But, we won’t just be strutting our stuff as competitors—South Africa will also have our eyes and ears to the ground, ensuring that all games are fair thanks to people like Ernesta Strydom, who will play ref at the Paralympics!
Ernesta has been appointed as an International Para Athletics Technical Official (ITO) for the Paralympics, making it her fifth time at the Paralympics.
Ernesta first qualified in 2006 and has gone on to qualify for multiple Games since then.
Speaking to the South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled (SASAPD) where she also serves on the NEC, she shared her highlights from her experience at the games over the years.
From Beijing 2008, big highlights for her were when Nicholas Newman won bronze for the Javelin F36 while Teboho Mokgalagadi scooped gold for the 100m T35. She had coached both of the athletes when they were juniors.
From London in 2012, she got to experience the South African 100m relay team T42-47 winning gold and breaking a world record as the umpire who oversaw the second take over zone.
And from Tokyo in 2020, she shares that robots serving them water and bringing the implements to athletes was one highlight, while Louzanne Coetzee and guide Claus Kempen winning bronze in the T12 women’s marathon was the brightest highlight.
As for what she is looking forward to from Paris, Ernesta shares:
“Definitely being part of the opening ceremony and officiating at the Stade de France with its purple athletics track and where the Springboks won the World Cup in 2023.”
Ernesta adds that she’s also looking forward to meeting “all [her] dear athletics friends from all over the world” and “seeing our South African para-athletes competing and defending their medals won in 2021 in Tokyo.”
Sources: SASAPD
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 