A 31.88-meter record-breaking throw on a world stage has earned University of Johannesburg (UJ) student-athlete, Yane van der Merwe, a silver medal in the 2024 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, UAE on Tuesday, 13 February 2024. Van der Merwe competed in the discus class F44 (a category for athletes with a lower limb deficiency), finishing a nick behind Norway’s Ida Nesse who won a gold medal in the same competition.
“I bagged the silver with a new African and South African Record of 31.88-meter mark. This is not the result that I wanted, but due to circumstances I will take it! The throwing circle/ring was too slippery, I even threw around wearing takkies and slipped,” explained van der Merwe after winning a silver medal.
Van der Merwe, who has a packed competition schedule ahead of her, said that the Grand Prix was a good learning opportunity and a good start to the season. “I can only go up from here. I’m looking forward to this year’s Paralympic Games in Paris, France,” she said.
Later this month (24 February 2024), the UJ Sports for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Club Master’s student will compete in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, and in the national championships in Bloemfontein, Free State Province in South Africa before going to the World Championships in Kobe, Japan in May 2024.
In Dubai, she als competed in shotput on Wednesday, 14 February 2024.
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