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Rolling Sport	Heather Pansegrouw
Port Elizabeth is possibly South Africa’s most accessible city.The people are friendly and, as we discovered at the opening ceremony, their Mayor is a no nonsense man. It was the perfect setting for the most important event on the PwD sporting calendar, the Nedbank NationalChampionships for the Physically Disabled. The event attracts the creme-de-la-creme of the sporting fraternity, not only competitors but offi cials too, and this aspect is extremely important for up and coming athletes, especially those from less affl uent communities. The offi cials willingly share their immense sporting knowledge with competitors, advising them on how to improve techniques - and their results - and for this reason, perhaps more than any other, the Nedbank Champs are an essential part of the calendar. Another unhighlighted aspect of the Champs is the road shows. Paralympic medallists visited local communities and spoke with children and adults from all walks of life. This interaction breaks down barriers and provides the opportunity for people who know nothing about disability to ask their questions without fear of reprisal, hurting someone’s feelings or being embarrassed. The announcement of Hilton’s appointment as Nedbank’s Brand Ambassador had been made at the opening ceremony and the road shows were good practise for the other athletes who would like to follow in his foot steps one day. Of course it is those sporting greats: the Natalie du Toits and Hilton Langenhovens who garner most of the media attention so Rolling Inspiration broke away from the popular events and spent a morning at the Power Lifting. Wow! Mazwi Mkhize from KZN is a perfect example of how important it is for the competitors to interact with such high calibre offi cials. The lad has immense strength and potential but it was his fi rst competition and he failed on his 90kg second lift because of a technicality. The legendary Moekie Grobellaar who left this gruelling sport after Beijing and now offi ciates at events had a word with 24 year old Mazwi about his technique and his third lift of 110 kgs went off without a hitch. All eyes were on the blind power house, Allen Dingle, but he was 1,5kgs over weight and so did not manage to achieve at this event. With no fanfare, and in front of a small but dedicated crowd of spectators, Central Gauteng’s Eugeni Popov (who himself weighs only 74 kgs) made three perfect lifts, broke the SA record twice, and set a new South African record of 175kgs in his class. A giant of a man, from neighbouring Namibia, Ruben Soroseb, who weighs in at just under 95kg followed and lifted an impressive 185kg. There were a number of youngsters, apart from Mazwi, including Anton-Pierre Swart, Marshall Marsh and Johannes Matthysen and many of them are still undecided as to whether they should continue with this particular event. Marshall has an impressive physique but his passion is tennis and, as the great Pavarotti said, “you cannot sit in two chairs at once”. The Champs provide that opportunity too, to help you decide which of the sports you are passionate about and which ones you are just good at. On Sunday night everyone was sitting biting their nails at the swimming pool, as the word got out that Kevin Paul was going to try for the World Record. A thunderous crowd swam the 50 metres Breast stroke with Kevin as he acheived his goal and set a new World record: 31.66 seconds. Well organised sporting events are crucial for the development of sport in South Africa. Well done Nedbank for recognising this and taking up the challenge! Our Natalie Swimming superstar Natalie du Toit flew to Abu Dhabi in March to receive the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. What many of our readers never get to see is the - supportive, caring, big sister to the other athletes - Natalie that we see. Well done Natalie, you truly deserve it! At Nedbank Champs Natalie refused to succumb to a massive violin spider bite on her leg and swam solidly, achieving impossible times that she set for herself and having fun with her team mates in the 200m mixed relay.

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Rolling Sport

Heather Pansegrouw

Port Elizabeth is possibly South Africa’s most accessible city.The people are friendly and, as we discovered at the opening ceremony, their Mayor is a no nonsense man. It was the perfect setting for the most important event on the PwD sporting calendar, the Nedbank NationalChampionships for the Physically Disabled.

The event attracts the creme-de-la-creme of the sporting fraternity, not only competitors but offi cials too, and this aspect is extremely important for up and coming athletes, especially those from less affl uent communities. The offi cials willingly share their immense sporting knowledge with competitors, advising them on how to improve techniques - and their results - and for this reason, perhaps more than any other, the Nedbank Champs are an essential part of the calendar.

Another unhighlighted aspect of the Champs is the road shows. Paralympic medallists visited local communities and spoke with children and adults from all walks of life. This interaction breaks down barriers and provides the opportunity for people who know nothing about disability to ask their questions without fear of reprisal, hurting someone’s feelings or being embarrassed. The announcement of Hilton’s appointment as Nedbank’s Brand Ambassador had been made at the opening ceremony and the road shows were good practise for the other athletes who would like to follow in his foot steps one day.

Of course it is those sporting greats: the Natalie du Toits and Hilton Langenhovens who garner most of the media attention so Rolling Inspiration broke away from the popular events and spent a morning at the Power Lifting. Wow! Mazwi Mkhize from KZN is a perfect example of how important it is for the competitors to interact with such high calibre offi cials. The lad has immense strength and potential but it was his fi rst competition and he failed on his 90kg second lift because of a technicality. The legendary Moekie Grobellaar who left this gruelling sport after Beijing and now offi ciates at events had a word with 24 year old Mazwi about his technique and his third lift of 110 kgs went off without a hitch.

All eyes were on the blind power house, Allen Dingle, but he was 1,5kgs over weight and so did not manage to achieve at this event. With no fanfare, and in front of a small but dedicated crowd of spectators, Central Gauteng’s Eugeni Popov (who himself weighs only 74 kgs) made three perfect lifts, broke the SA record twice, and set a new South African record of 175kgs in his class.

A giant of a man, from neighbouring Namibia, Ruben Soroseb, who weighs in at just under 95kg followed and lifted an impressive 185kg. There were a number of youngsters, apart from Mazwi, including Anton-Pierre Swart, Marshall Marsh and Johannes Matthysen and many of them are still undecided as to whether they should continue with this particular event. Marshall has an impressive physique but his passion is tennis and, as the great Pavarotti said, “you cannot sit in two chairs at once”. The Champs provide that opportunity too, to help you decide which of the sports you are passionate about and which ones you are just good at.

On Sunday night everyone was sitting biting their nails at the swimming pool, as the word got out that Kevin Paul was going to try for the World Record. A thunderous crowd swam the 50 metres Breast stroke with Kevin as he acheived his goal and set a new World record: 31.66 seconds.

Well organised sporting events are crucial for the development of sport in South Africa. Well done Nedbank for recognising this and taking up the challenge!

Our Natalie

Swimming superstar Natalie du Toit flew to Abu Dhabi in March to receive the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award.

It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. What many of our readers never get to see is the - supportive, caring, big sister to the other athletes - Natalie that we see. Well done Natalie, you truly deserve it!

At Nedbank Champs Natalie refused to succumb to a massive violin spider bite on her leg and swam solidly, achieving impossible times that she set for herself and having fun with her team mates in the 200m mixed relay.

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