Sunninghill athlete brings home gold and silver from Para Cycling World Championships
SUNNINGHILL– Du Preez described his win, which gave him enough points to compete in the upcoming 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo, as a miracle and grace from above.
Four-time para-cycling world champion and resident of Sunninghill, Pieter du Preez has once again flown the South African flag high on the international stage.
Du Preez scooped a silver medal in the Men’s H1 trial and a gold medal in the Men’s H1 road race in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Para-Cycling World Championships recently held in Portugal.
Du Preez, who is a quadriplegic, described his win, which gave him enough points to compete in the upcoming 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo, as a miracle and grace from above following difficult preparations under lockdown restrictions.
“Preparing for this event was not easy due to lockdown restrictions. I had to mentally and physically adapt to the new normal of lockdown restrictions and train 15 hours a week indoors. This competition was one of the stones that one had to jump in order to qualify to go to Tokyo,” he said.
“In the process of my preparations, I suffered a shoulder injury that robbed me of six training weeks. However, with the grace from above, I managed to achieve these results at the UCI.”
He concluded, “I want to thank my family and all those who supported me coming to this event. I look forward to lifting the Rainbow Nation flag once again at the Paralympics to be held in Tokyo later this year.”
