Fast track to Rio
Getting to Rio is only half the goal and Wilson said he has upped his workout sessions in order to be fully prepared.
Photo: Darren Goddard
A dream has come true for former Ballito boy, Dane Wilson, who will be packing his bags and heading to Rio with the South African para-cycling team to compete at the 2016 Paralympics at the end of the month.
“I am really chuffed! Making it to this point has been a conscious journey since 2011. I have had to make sacrifices with my family and career in order to put in the consistent time, and to achieve the continuous progression to be selected,” said Wilson who was born without a left hand and portion of the forearm.
Getting to Rio is only half the goal and Wilson said he has upped his workout sessions in order to be fully prepared.
“My training schedule varies at different times in the season. Pre-season training is typically above 20 hours per week at lower intensities. Right now, I average around 14 hours per week at much higher intensities. Preparation has been good overall, given that I am not a full time professional athlete, and ‘life happens’ as they say, with work and family commitments. It is a constant juggle,” said Wilson, who has been cycling for fun since about 2002.
“I started more serious riding in 2009. I was the first ‘amputee’ to complete the Absa Cape Epic. Thereafter, I was introduced to the discipline of track cycling, and represented South Africa, as a para-cyclist, for the first time at the Oceania Games in New Zealand in 2011.”
He said the level of competition is going to be incredibly tough at the Olympics.
“World records in my para-category (C5) are within two to three per cent of the able-bodied records, and the majority of the riders are funded or sponsored as full time professional athletes. I love the challenge, but do have a healthy level of respect for my fellow competitors.”
Dane is the son of Ballito residents Ken Mann and Jayne Wilson.
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