The para swimming gala at the 2025 Toyota SASAPD National championships concluded in record-breaking fashion in Gqeberha on Monday. Over two thrilling sessions, a total of nine new national marks were established.
Among the countries newest record holders is Gauteng’s William le Roux who at 14-years-old broke the men’s open 1500m S9 record by over 10 seconds. The double leg amputee hopes to use his swimming talent to secure a bursary at an international university and inspire others to go for their dreams despite their disabilities.
Gauteng won the team trophy led by Paralympic swimming legend turned coach, Tadhg Slattery. The province won 14 golds, 15 silver and 12 bronze and saw Moeketsi Adams better his 100m backstroke S5 national mark. The next best province was KwaZulu-Natal with eight gold medals and third went to Western Cape with two gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
The records continued to tumble at the track with Juane le Roux setting a new African record in the women’s discus F46. The Nelspruit teen improved the previous best of 34.01m to 34.52m.
Le Roux said she was surprised by the result as she had started the competition with four no throws before successfully getting a distance down and bettering the previous continental best. Le Roux explained, “it wasn’t one of my best throws, but I am happy to have thrown an African record today.”
The Para Judo competition took place at Merryvale High School. The field included Ndyebo Lamani who made history in Paris when he became the first judoka to represent the country at the Paralympic Games last year. With the IBSA Judo World Championships set to take place in Astana, Kazakstan in May, the championships were a chance to test his competition fitness.
The Boccia Individual competition saw the Eastern Cape’s Brett Dakin win gold in the hotly contested BC2 male event while Paralympians Karabo Morapedi won the BC3 male title and Elanza Jordaan won the BC3 female title.
Marisa Potgieter, SASAPD sport convener for Boccia said, “It’s the start of the next four-year cycle and the players can look forward to the possibility of taking a full team to the next Paralympic Games. We are looking to make an elite team following the Nationals that we will work closely with leading up to LA 2028. It is not to say that they will make the Paralympic team in four years, because we can have people added but it’s about making the players more accountable to their Paralympic goals and dreams.”
The goalball national champions will be crowned on Tuesday while the final round of CP football matches will take place at the Fairview Sports Centre before the closing ceremony at the Feather Market Centre.
