A rare sight greeted athletes at the Kenneth McArthur Athletics track this month when Paralympic medallists and New York Marathon champions trained and raced their wheelchairs around the tartan turf.
The Kenneth McArthur Athletics Track hosted the Swiss National Wheelchair Athletics team that included some of the finest wheelchair athletes in the world, like Switzerland’s sprinter, Beat Bösch and the marathon queen, Manuela Schär as part of their training programme ahead of the athletics season.
The Swiss team comprises eight athletes who are under the tutelage of national coach, Beat Fäh and the national youth coach, Paul Odermatt, spent ten training days in the city with preparation, technique and speed being the main goals.

‘Potchefstroom was the ideal place to prepare, with the facilities and weather being perfect just before our athletics season begins. I needed to make sure that everything was in place and I was surprised and happy with the hospitality that everyone has shown us. Here, at Wright’s Guesthouse where we stay, they have been fantastic and Alec Wright is doing fantastic work to accommodate the athletes,’ added Fäh.

Schär, who is the 2017 London, Boston and New York Marathon champion, had a spectacular year, winning three major world marathon races and her story of triumph over adversity is a true testament to the power of sport.

‘I started wheelchair racing when I was 11 years old. I had an accident when I was nine and had previously competed in athletics. Wheelchair racing was therapy for me after my accident as I needed to learn about my body and how it works. At first, it was a slow process,’ she explained.

‘Winning the London, Boston and New York Marathon was definitely the highlight of my career. I have been competing in marathons since 2013, after having competed in track and half-marathon before that. It is my new passion,’ she added.

Schär’s main goal on her visit is to train for the Tokyo Marathon that took place this past Sunday and, according to her, the conditions have been perfect for her training.

‘It’s best to train outside to get enough power and speed and simulate a real-life environment. It’s winter in Switzerland now so it’s good to be able to train outside,’ she said.

Beat Bösch is another world-class athlete who has competed in five Paralympics, taking home four medals (three silver and one bronze) in total. In contrast to Schär, he enjoys the high-octane environment of sprinting.

‘I like sprinting because it’s short and powerful and you are not allowed to make the smallest mistake. Everything, from start to finish, must be perfect,’ he said.
Bösch was involved in a car accident in 1996, which left him in a wheelchair, having previously been a gymnast.
His appetite for sport and competition could not be extinguished, though, and he soon turned to wheelchair racing as a result.
‘My next goal will be to excel in the European Championships and medal in those events this season. What motivates me is to be as fast as possible at all times.’