Discipline. Resilience. Perseverance.

These qualities have taken former Paralympic gold medallist and world champion athlete Dyan Buis from the small town of Riversdale to the top of the sporting world. The same traits that catapulted Buis in sport carried him through the research for his Master’s degree in education policy studies at Stellenbosch University (SU). He graduated on Monday (8 December 2025) during SU’s December graduation week.

Buis’ latest achievement is a testament to his never-say-die attitude, something that has stood him in good stead throughout his life. Diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy at a very young age (a condition that affects movement and muscle control, caused by brain damage), he always had to prove that he could be successful in whatever he puts his mind to. And he never used his disability as an excuse. 

“My motivation was to always reach for the stars, to always give my best. In sport, I have learned that I do everything to bring honour to the Lord and Saviour that gave me the talent. I know full well that I achieved nothing on my own.”

Solution- and goal-oriented

Buis, who is a teacher at Lückhoff High School in Stellenbosch and a pastor at the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, describes himself as very competitive, performance-driven, and solution- and goal-oriented. No wonder he became a world-class sprinter and long jumper who now also boasts a Master’s degree.

“Even if things are difficult, I have learned to find an easier way. I have learnt to become very confident in my abilities and in what I can achieve with the help of the Lord. Living with a disability is finding ways to overcome, adapt and search for solutions daily,” he says. 

“I have learnt through living with a disability and doing high performance sport that giving up is not an option. I have learned to work hard and to be focussed. If you achieve a goal, set the bar a little higher to keep on improving.

“Excellence is my goal in everything that I do,” Buis adds. “I have met prominent people through sport, and my motto is always: If they could reach that pinnacle, why not me? I am goal-orientated, and I go for what I want.”

He is quick to point out that balancing the demands of full-time sport, teaching, family life, and serving as deputy principal wasn’t easy.

“To be honest, I struggled to balance all these things. Sport took a lot of my time and energy, and other areas got the leftovers. I was close to burnout many times, but quitting was never an option. There were people counting on me and my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, gave me the strength to get up and carry on another day.”

Support

Buis could also lean on his family, SU, and his supervisor, Dr Jerome Joorst from the Department of Education Policy Studies. He is especially grateful to SU for standing by him.

“Stellenbosch University has contributed so much to my development and growth and my sport development. The Maties Sport High Performance Unit fully supported me. My student fees were always covered through sport bursaries, and the Disability Unit made a momentous impact with funding that was much needed.”

Buis also speaks glowingly about the support of his wife, Erna: “She has been an unwavering source of support through every season of my life. During my years as a high-performance athlete, she managed our household with incredible dedication, ensuring that I had the rest and nutrition needed to perform at my best. Throughout my studies, she gently – but persistently – reminded me to prioritise my thesis, always in her own caring, wifely way. She balanced our family life with excellence, and it’s because of her steady support that I have been able to thrive in my work, my studies, and my sport.”

He also has a special word of thanks for his supervisor.

“Together with my family, Dr Joorst never stopped believing that I could cross the finish line. He was always supportive and gave guidance when I needed it. He kept on believing in the end goal and I will always be thankful for the role that he played in my academic journey.”

Educational experiences

With a keen interest in inclusive education policies, Buis’ research focused on the educational experiences of learners with disabilities in mainstream schools in the Cape Winelands. He says this resonates with his experience as a learner with a physical disability in such a school.

“My extensive experience within the public school system, including working directly with learners with physical disabilities, has made me acutely aware of the disparities in how inclusive education policies are interpreted and implemented across different schools. My personal commitment to social justice and equitable education opportunities informed my decision to focus on this topic,” he says.

“My study reveals significant gaps between policy intentions and actual school practices, resulting in environments that restrict participation and reinforce inequality for learners with physical disabilities. These learners experience inclusion in mainstream schools as inconsistent, often exclusionary, and largely limited to physical placement rather than meaningful participation.”

According to Buis, his study contributes to a deeper understanding of what equitable and just education should look like for learners with physical disabilities.

Asked about his message to people who may be juggling personal challenges with big ambitions, Buis says: “Don’t give up on your dreams. It may seem impossible in the moment, but if you put in the hard work, you can fulfil your dreams.”

He hopes that his academic journey can help demonstrate to other athletes with disabilities what they can achieve beyond the sports field.

With family and career taking priority, Buis says he now has little time for parasport. “My dream is to help professionalise the sport at a later stage and to be part of the top leadership structure of the federation in South Africa.”

He plans to publish his findings in academic journals, pursue a PhD, secure a lecturing opportunity or move into senior management at school level.