Local visually impaired athlete and pilot off to Egypt

Para-triathlon, specifically for disabled athletes, is still a relatively niche sport in South Africa, given its multidisciplinary nature (swim, cycle, run).

However, Gavin Kilpatrick has become a pioneer in the sport. He is a bronze medallist at the Beijing Para Olympics for track cycling and has competed at various international competitions.

He is a visually impaired athlete with Stargardt Macular Dystrophy (SMD), an incurable, degenerative genetic condition affecting central vision in the eyes.

Since discovering triathlon, Kilpatrick has actively grown the visually impaired para-triathlon category in South Africa from a single participant a few years ago to half a dozen regular participants.

One of his recruits into the sport is Brackenhurst’s Heinrich Vermaak. Vermaak also has SMD, but his condition has progressed severely in recent years, leaving him with less than 10% vision.

Despite his immense challenges, Heinrich is determined to develop as a para-triathlete and become an inspiration in the community – actively encouraging others to overcome their challenges. In March this year, Heinrich won a silver medal in the South African Para-Triathlon Championships, with Gavin taking gold.

Vermaak received an invitation to participate in the African Para-Triathlon Championships in Egypt in October. Gavin was also invited but had to pull out because of illness.

“For me, this is one of those events that most athletes aspire to. It’s not every day that you get to represent your country. This is a first for me, my first international event, and it means a lot. I am looking forward to it and to doing well, and hopefully bringing back a gold medal,” said Vermaak.

He said he hopes this event will inspire people to believe that they can also achieve greatness.

“I have done SA Champs three times and every time intending to go to the Africa Champs, but this is the first time I’m going to make it,” he explained.

Growing the sport

According to Vermaak’s pilot, Jefferson Murdoch, a visually impaired para-triathlete, requires a ‘guide’ to assist them during the event.

“The guide is an able-bodied triathlete who competes alongside the para-athlete in all three disciplines. During the swim, they tether the guide to the para-athlete on a short cord, guiding them around the open water course. In the cycle leg, they use a tandem bicycle with a guide in the front. For the run, they again tethered the guide to the para-athlete by hand or waist,” he explained.

Para-triathletes and their guides have a very close relationship. They train together and race together.

The key to a good partnership, Murdoch said, is mutual understanding, good communication, and two-way encouragement.

Gavin and Heinrich’s vision is to grow a visually impaired para-triathlon in South Africa by bringing in more participants and more para-friendly triathlon events.

“We want to raise awareness, understanding and support for visually impaired triathletes, inspire and motivate others through sharing their stories and continue to compete locally and internationally over the next three years,” he said.

They have also set their sights on performing at major events like the African Para-Triathlon Championships and other world triathlon Championship events and earning world triathlon ranking from international events to qualify for the Commonwealth Para Games (2026).

They also aim to raise funds for their journey – a multi-year, multi-event journey programme culminating at the Commonwealth Games in 2026.

They intend to set aside 10% of all funds raised to support visually impaired para-triathletes in South Africa.
“In South Africa, only para-athletes that represent South Africa at Para-Olympics and Commonwealth Games (held every four years) received support,” Murdoch explained.

He said any para-athletes working towards qualifying for these prestigious events get limited or zero support.

Financial support needed

Para-athletes must raise their own funds, source sponsorships, and find support for their own journey.

Murdoch said this is typically a three to four-year journey which involves qualifying, taking part and performing at many international events to earn points in the world triathlon rankings.

“Many of these mandatory international events are in Europe and some in the USA, Australia, and Canada. For visually impaired para-triathletes, the cost is expensive as it requires covering their guide’s cost as well.

“As a guideline, the average cost range for a para-triathlete and their guide to participating in an international event, including their travel visas, flights, event accommodation and entry fees, is R45 000 to R65 000,” he said.

The journey to the Commonwealth Games requires participation in about eight international events during the three-year build-up. He said the total cost for a single para-triathlete, including their guide, is between R360 000 and R520 000.

Kilpatrick and Vermaak’s three-year journey, including guides, to their goal of the Commonwealth Games in 2026 will cost about R1m.

All journeys start with the African Para-Triathlon Championships in Egypt in October 2023.

Murdoch said, “Required financial support is about R90 000 for both para-triathletes, including their guides. Other important non-financial support required is social media campaign assistance (expertise and coordination), content storage for media (documenting the journey), fundraising support, training kit and competition kit, spares and maintenance, nutrition and supplements.”

The support they already received includes gym membership sponsorship courtesy of Virgin Active South Africa. This sponsorship is highly valuable to the duo. The growing list of company sponsors includes Cranky Gears, Smoove Lube, Fusion Software, family and friends.

To show your support, visit gofundme.

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