The Path2Paris has come to an end, so we checked in with Louzanne Coetzee and her guide, Claus Kempen, to find out what they loved about the trip, what’s next and how they each deal with mental health after such a big sporting event.
South Africa (18 September 2024) – The Paralympics have come to an end, but South Africa is still feeling the buzz and joy brought about by our incredibly talented athletes. A total of six medals were earned at the Paralympics, and Louzanne Coetzee proudly added a Bronze to that tally for her 1,500m T11 event.
Louzanne has been on the Path2Paris for a long while, overcoming injury with the support of Profmed and, finally, representing South Africa at the Paralympics alongside guides Claus Kempen and Estean Badenhorst.
Claus and Louzanne have been working closely together for several years now. We got the opportunity to speak to the impressive duo, finding out how their time in Paris went, what they plan for the future and how their mental health takes priority.
Paris was a friendly and accessible space, and Claus found the Parisians to be very welcoming; he loved getting to explore the historic city. Louzanne had a fantastic experience and loved supporting her fellow athletes at the games. She and Claus have shared snippets of advice for young athletes getting ready to compete at big-time events, saying:
“Don’t be scared to work. It takes time to achieve something remarkable.” – Louzanne Coetzee
Don’t let the pressure of achieving overshadow the journey. Every step, from training to making it to the starting line, is an achievement in itself. When you’re standing at the starting line, that’s your victory. Everything else is just a bonus. Enjoy the process and stay present in the moment.” – Claus Kempen
Balancing physical fitness and mental health is a big factor in being an athlete, but getting to the start line is only a small part of the equation.
“I work quite hard on the mental part with stress management exercises, visualisations, yoga and meditation, etc.” – Louzanne
Claus chimed in regarding how he keeps his mental health, and it’s all about combining the physical with the mental side.
“Maintaining mental health is often more challenging than physical health, but I find that combining the two helps. When I take care of my body through exercise, it becomes a catalyst for a positive mental state.” – Claus
Louzanne’s Path2Paris was proudly sponsored by Profmed; the medical aid supports all members’ mental health through their WellBeing offering. This focuses on perks, including mental WellBeing assessments, mood trackers, and personalised learning videos to name a few.
As for Louzanne’s medal win, Claus wasn’t her guide for that race, but the win felt as just as big.
“Although I didn’t earn a medal myself, one of the absolute highlights of my trip was witnessing Louzanne and Estean’s incredible performance. Their race was phenomenal, and their bronze medal truly felt like a victory that surpassed gold. It was heartwarming to see all their hard work pay off.” – Claus
The next thing on the cards for Louzanne is spending her time supporting local races and joining the Spar Women’s Challenge in October. When asked if the duo would take some time to rest, they both laughed and shared that they don’t love to take time off. Louzanne will carry on running her favourite races, and Claus is a fan of jogging during his “down-time”; he is looking forward to some coastal park runs.
The trip to Paris was made possible thanks to investment in Louzanne’s career. Profmed has been with Louzanne and Claus for every step along their Path2Paris. Corporate investment in athletic careers plays a pivotal role, as our stars compete alongside the world’s best.
“As athletes we want corporate South Africa to back us and become part of our journeys. We want to add value to corporates and make their clients and employees realise that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
Throughout my path to Paris, Profmed has been a great example of this to the rest of corporate SA. Without them we would not have achieved what we did in the 1,500m as well as the marathon at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.” concludes Louzanne.
While the Path2Paris may be over, we look forward to seeing Louzanne and Claus back on the track again soon. Profmed will be sure to keep us updated on what’s next for the duo.
Sources: Profmed
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