Rhys Jones (WAL) ran his season’s best time of 12.04 to secure the Bronze in a very strong athletics field this evening.
Fanie Van Der Merwe (RSA) grabbed the top spot with a time of 11.65, with his fellow South African, Charl Du Toit (RSA) claiming the Silver with a time of 11.89.
Special note for Jason Maclean (SCO) who ran a personal best time of 12.93.
Daniel Hooker (ENG) finished in seventh place with 13.15.
Well done to everyone for a truly gripping final.
Rhys Jones (WAL)
On winning the bronze:
“Any colour would’ve been amazing, it’s a dream come true. I’m so proud to be here with a dragon on my chest at the para-athletics.”
T37 classification is for athletes with conditions that affect muscle control who compete standing.
More to follow…
About the athletes…
Fanie Van Der Merwe (RSA)
Classification
T37
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Start of sporting career
He took up athletics in 2003 in Bloemfontein, South Africa .
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the 100m and 200m at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
Hero
His family.
Sporting philosophy / motto
“Run to glorify God.”
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Along with his brother Chris, he runs a non-profit coaching and life mentoring organisation called Inspired 2 Become. It focuses on alternative action sports and athletics for people with an impairment. He also coaches children with visual and intellectual impairments.
Charl Du Toit (RSA)
Classification
T37, F37
Sporting philosophy / motto
“Everything happens for a reason.”
Rhys Jones (WAL)
Classification
T37, F37
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Origin of Impairment
Illness
Impairment Details
He developed encephalitis at age two which resulted in paralysis on the left side of his body and problems with his sight.
Start of sporting career
He took up athletics in 2008.
Reason for taking up this sport
Already playing football, he attended a trial with the Federation Disability Sports Wales [FDSW] and discovered how fast he could run. This led him into athletics.
Ambitions
To work with children with impairments.
Hero
Welsh rugby player Aled Davies and Welsh Paralympian javelin thrower Nathan Stephens.
Andrea Dalle Ave (RSA)
Classification
T37, F37
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Impairment Details
He was born five weeks prematurely. He had a stroke shortly afterwards, which left the right side of his body paralysed. His mother Izanne was determined to do the best for him. “We decided early on to work towards the highest denominator, not the lowest. Andrea always responded best to competition, and whenever we wanted to motivate him in anything, there had to be a prize or an achievement at the end of it.”
Start of sporting career
He began the sport in 2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Reason for taking up this sport
“I’m very competitive. I couldn’t live without sport.”
Ambitions
To be Paralympic champion.
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning his first international medal at an event in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Sporting philosophy / motto
“Have no regrets. Adversity causes some to break and others to break records.”
Jason Maclean (SCO)
Classification
T37
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Impairment Details
He has cerebral palsy. The condition predominantly affects the right side of his body.
Start of sporting career
He took up athletics in April 2013 at the Inverness Harriers club in Scotland.
Reason for taking up this sport
He was recommended to coach Charlie Forbes by the active schools co-ordinator for his school Nairn Academy in Scotland.
Ambitions
To win a medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Training
He trains five times per week. His sessions include drills and hurdles on the track, and strength work in the gym.
Sean Roboerts (AUS)
Classification
T37, F37
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Impairment Details
He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy shortly after birth.
Start of sporting career
He began competing in athletics at age three.
Reason for taking up this sport
“I started out and realised this was something I could be really good at and pursue as a goal. I used to compete against able-bodied people but now I compete against people with disabilities. It’s an even playing field now.”
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning five gold medals at his first national championships.
Superstitions / Rituals
He tries to relax by listening to music before competing.
Daniel Hooker (ENG)
Classification
T37, F37
Type of Impairment
Cerebral Palsy
Start of sporting career
He took up athletics in 2007.
Reason for taking up this sport
“I started off participating in able-bodied sports and nearly made it to the county squash team. When I was 15 I knew I wanted to compete at an elite level and decided to contact various governing bodies and Cerebral Palsy Sport to explore options within disabled sport. Disabled sport began appealing to me because it was now a level playing field and I had no excuses to stand in my way of success.”
Ambitions
To remain in the top eight of the Commonwealth rankings, and to compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Training
He trains six times per week, resting on Wednesdays.
Most memorable sporting achievement
Qualifying for the 2014 Commonwealth Games at the Bedford International Games despite a severely inflamed knee tendon. “I could barely walk the day before [qualifying].”
Hero
US sprinters Maurice Green and Michael Johnson.
Most influential person in career
His mother.
Sporting philosophy / motto
“You get out what you put in.”
EDUCATION
He has studied for a master’s degree at the Queen Mary University of London in England. He has also studied a degree in history at the University of Oxford in England.
TRACK VS FIELD
He switched from track to field after realising that his attributes were better suited to long jump. “I started on my Paralympic journey as a sprinter. The 100m is the big glamorous event of athletics and I wanted to be a part of it. But it’s based on my acceleration. So my greater potential is probably in the long jump where run ups rarely exceed 20 strides, and it was the event I knew was my real chance.”