East Rand Kayak (ERK) paddler Dawie Gerber made a successful comeback to sprints after winning the Trilogy Sprint Series held at Emmarentia Dam and Roodeplat Dam in February and March.
Gerber, from Alphen Park, was the overall winner of the three-part series, making a comeback to the short distances in the sport after taking a break because of injuries and personal commitments.
“He has a renewed passion for sprints,” said Gauteng Canoe Union spokesperson Jennie Dallas.
Gerber grew up in Benoni and began paddling in 2003. Olympian Shaun Rubenstein, who made the semi-finals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics trained him.
“Gerber competed in multiple world cups and world sprint championships where the Olympics was the goal in mind and what he trained for.
“Unfortunately because of shoulder injuries, he had to stop paddling for a number of years and lost motivation. However, after Covid, he began training again, enjoying the sprint competitions available,” Dallas said.
Gerber’s ERK teammate, Lourens Olivier of Boksburg, finished fourth in the event as the duo continued their preparations for this weekend’s South African Sprint Championship.
“They thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Sprint Trilogy using the events as part of their training and preparation for the upcoming SA national sprints and an opportunity to qualify for the Paris Olympics for the K2 500m event,” added Dallas.
The trilogy, held at Emmarentia Dam on February 3 and Roodeplat Dam on February 24 and March 10, was organised by international sprinter Esti van Tonder, who’s eying a spot in the team to represent South Africa at the Olympics in Paris.
The nationals will take place from March 23 to 25 at Germiston Lake.
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