​​Members of the Maties Parasport Club participated in various local and international competitions during the past week.

Brandon Beack, who only started participating in sport for people with disabilities 18 months ago, competed as an individual at the International Wheelchair & Amputee Sport Federation's U/23 championships in Prague in the Czech Republic recently. He won gold in the shot put (class F53) with a distance of 5,92m. The winner was determined on a points system because different classes competed together. He also came fourth in the 100m (T52).

Brandon was included in the Mail & Guardian's 2016 list of 200 Young South Africans. He used to be a talented gymnast, but became a quadruplegic due to a nect injury after a bad dismount.

Wentzel Barnard, manager of the Maties Parasport Club, described Beack's achievements as "unbelievable" given the short time he's been involved in the sport. Hy ascribed it to a combination of talent and hard work by the athlete and valuable input by his coach Karin le Roux.

Le Roux is currently in Europe with a group of field athletes as preparation for possible participation in the Paralympic Games in Rio. The experienced Paralympic athlete Zanele Situ (F54) achieved a personal best distance in the discus at the Polish Open championships. She will now travel to Germany to compete there.

A group of track athletes from the Maties Parasport Club left for Europe on Tuesday to participate in various competitions.

Locally, Herculaas Lamprecht who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010 and received a bone marrow transplant in 2011, participated in the SA Laser Run – a sport item consisting of running and shooting. Herculaas came second in the division for junior men at the competition that was held in Bela-Bela. This achievement led to place in the SA President's team that will participate in Lisbon, Portugal, later this year.