Never give up
SUNNINGHILL – When Du Preez suffered catastrophic injuries while cycling in 2003, many people thought his dream to become an Olympics gold medallist was shattered.
Following a tragic car accident that almost claimed his life on October 6, 2003, Pieter du Preez has refused to let go of his childhood dream to become an Olympics gold medallist and be counted among the best athletes in the world.
His 36-year-old dream became a reality last month when Du Preez (40) was crowned champion in the Men’s H1 cycling time trial in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in Japan.
He grew up in Randburg and is now a resident of Sunninghill. Du Preez said, “Growing up as child, in fact from the age of six, I told myself that one day I will become an Olympics gold medallist.
“I’ve been involved in sport since my childhood. I participated in every sport when I was in school and my parents were very supportive and encouraged me throughout. They always made a point of it that I keep the balance between sports and academics.”
He added, “I did cycling, running, rugby, swimming, tennis and others even though I wasn’t good in some of them.”
Du Preez said many people thought his dreams to become an Olympics gold medallist one day were shattered when he suffered catastrophic injuries while cycling in 2003. ” I was in ICU for 42 days but I remained positive that things will be fine, even though the doctors thought I was in denial of what I was going through.”
In 2005 he participated in the Rio Paralympics as part of wheelchair rugby team that won bronze and silver.
Despite winning different international accolades and breaking world records in chair racing, swimming, cycling and other sport codes, Du Preez believes that the Paralympics gold medal was a realisation of his dream.
He urged young people and those who find themselves in impossible situations to fight for their dreams and never allow circumstances to pull them down.
