Several members of the Maties Parasport Club became national champions in their respective disciplines and some even achieved Paralympic qualifying times or distances at the Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled last week.

The event was hosted in Bloemfontein from 18-24 March.

Maties Parasport Club was represented by 29 members in the Western Province team in three sport codes – athletics, swimming and cycling.

Three Matie athletes met the required times and distances for the Rio Games in two events each – Ilse Hayes (T13, 100m and 400m), Dyan Buis (T38, 100m and 400m) and Arnu Fourie (T44, 100m and 200m) – while Zanele Situ (F54, javelin), Reinhardt Hamman (F38, javelin), Charl du Toit (T37, 400m) and Fanie van der Merwe (T37, 100m) did the same in one event each.

Matie athletes won an impressive number of medals on the track and field. Multiple medal winners include Hayes (three gold medals), Brandon Beack (three gold medals), Elna Dürr and her guide Melissa Viljoen (two gold medals), Lean Simon (two gold medals), Kerwin Noemdo (two gold medals), Zanele Situ (two gold medals), Arnu Fourie (two gold medals), Wesley Grant (two gold medals), Dyan Buis (two gold medals), Thabo Dube (one gold and one silver medal) and Ruhan van Rooyen (one gold and one silver medal).

Hamman, Du Toit and Van der Merwe won one gold medal each.

It was a bittersweet week for Van der Merwe who competed in his last national championship on the same track where his athletics career started. He has competed in 13 consecutive national championships and has won more than 20 gold medals at this level.

His coach, Dr Suzanne Ferreira, described him "as a legend, with a legacy at this championships far greater than his performances".

"It was a privilege to be able to end my SA Champs career in Bloemfontein where it all started," Van der Merwe told Road to Rio.

"I'm looking forward to the rest of my road to Rio. It's such a privilege to have one last opportunity to give it everything I have, no matter the outcome.

"I'm extremely blessed, and I am looking forward to coach and mentor athletes through the Inspired2Become programme and take hands with others in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Wentzel Barnard, manager of the Maties Parasport Club, was very pleased with the athletes' results and pleasantly surprised by some of the newcomers' excellent performances.

He specifically referred to SA records set by Beack (T52 wheelchair race) and Dube (F57, discus). Carli Pretorius (F38, discus and shot put, girls u.18) also surprised with her results and Jodine Scott, who represented WP for the first time, won gold in the long jump (F37).

Coach Karin le Roux believes Beack and Dube are athletes to keep an eye on in the future.

Willem Venter, who recently graduated from Stellenbosch University with an MSc degree in computer science was a member of the Boland goal ball team who won silver.

Photograph: Fanie van der Merwe wins his final medal at a national championship (100m (T37)).

PHOTO CREDIT: Martin Potgieter, Bonzai Photography