Stellenbosch University
Welcome to Stellenbosch University
'Smiling lightning' wins second gold medal
Author: Pia Nänny
Published: 16/09/2016

"He just doesn't stop smiling," a TV commentator remarked on Friday afternoon as Maties Parasport athlete Charl du Toit powered down the home straight to win his second gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Rio.

Charl, who is busy with his honours degree in Education management at Stellenbosch University, followed up his gold medal and world record in the 100m (T37) over the weekend with another gold medal and a Paralympic record in the 400m (T37) on Friday, 16 September.

And the big smile on his face has not gone unnoticed. After the race, he explained in an interview posted by TeamSA: "I'm privileged enough to be part of a wonderful training group with some of the best athletes in the world and at the beginning of the year we each had to identify a theme for the year.

"Mine was 'Smiling lightning'. I just wanted to go out there and enjoy every second – enjoy it with the Lord in my heart."

Charl added that every athlete wants to be the best that he/she can be and that he is very grateful: "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would do this (win two gold medals). I'm looking forward to the road ahead."

It was a spectacular week for the Maties Parasport Club. After winning three medals – gold (Charl), silver (Ilse Hayes) and bronze (Fanie van der Merwe) – on Sunday (read more here), Maties Parasport athletes won six more medals during the week.

South Africa's famous Paralympian Ernst van Dyk won gold in the road race (hand cycle – H5) while Reinhardt Hamman, who is competing in his first Paralympic Games, won gold in the javelin (T38).

Charl's training partners Anruné Liebenberg and Dyan Buis won silver and bronze respectively – Anruné silver in die 400m (T47) and Dyan bronze in the long jump (T38) – while Dyan narrowly missed out on a medal in the 100m event. They are all students in the Faculty of Education.

And sixteen years after winning her first medal at a Paralympic Games, wheelchair athlete Zanele Situ did it again, winning bronze in the javelin (F54) with a personal best distance of 17.90m.

On Friday, Dyan qualified for the final of the 400m (T38) taking place on Saturday, while silver medallist Ilse Hayes will compete in the 400m (T13). Ernst van Dyk will also be in action one more time when he participates in the wheelchair marathon on Sunday.