Tough, but good, says Louzanne about marathons
05 June 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer
Athlete Louzanne Coetzee with the trophy of the Free State Sports Association for the Physically Disabled as Sports Star of the Year.
Although challenging, very exciting and a new journey, says Louzanne Coetzee about the athletics year for which she has been recognised.
The 26-year-old, who is doing her master's in Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Studies at the University of the Free State, won the Free State Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (FSSAPD) Sports Star of the Year award for a fourth consecutive time. This was for the period June 2018 to April 2019.
In that time, she set a world record, an Africa record, and ran two marathons in which she came amazingly close to a second world record.
Only in her second marathon at the Berlin Marathon in September, the Paralympian fell 26 seconds short of the T11 (totally blind) world record time. She met the qualifying time for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo during the London Marathon in April.
"Marathons are definitely challenging and a new field for me, but I would say it has been a good 12 months. My aim is now set on next year's Paralympic Games, where I would like to compete in the marathon and the 1 500 m."
"I hope to run a good time in the 1 500 m at the World Para Athletics Championships in November."
At the SASAPD National Championships for physically disabled and visually impaired athletes in April 2019, Coetzee won three gold medals and set a record in the 1 500 m.
Others from the UFS also honoured
Coetzee has received several awards in her career, but says it is always special to be rewarded by her own federation (FSSAPD).
Danie Breitenbach (T11) was also honoured as the Senior Male Sports Star. He bagged two gold medals and one silver and set a SA record in both the 800 m and 1 500 m at the nationals. Another Kovsie, Dineo Mokhosoa (F36 – coordination impairments), received a merit award for her gold medal in shot-put and silver in the discus at the national champs.
Nursing students receive R25 000 for gazellie
The Professional Provident Society Insurance Company Limited (PPS) donated R25 000 to the University of the Free State's (UFS) School of Nursing for the refurbishment of a gazellie for nursing students. At this occasion were, from the left: Prof. Anita van der Merwe (Head of the UFS School of Nursing), Prof. Letticia Moja (Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences at the UFS), Mr Hannes Ferreira (Divisional Manager: Broker Services, PPS), and Reneé Kotzé (fourth-year nursing student and Vice-President of the School of Nursing's Student Forum).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs