Team SA miss out on Paralympics medals, but Alani Ferreira breaks African record

There were no medals for Team SA at the Paralympics on Thursday, but Alani Ferreira broke the African record after a brave swim in her discipline.

The 26-year-old from the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands finished in fifth place in a time of 1:21.36 in the women’s 100m breaststroke – SB12 final on Thursday evening.

The race was won in a world record time of 1:12.54 by Elena Krawzow of Germany. Maria Gomes Santiago of Brazil, and Jietong Zheng of China picked up the silver and bronze medals.

In the final that followed, the women’s 100m breaststroke - SB13, Team SA’s Danika Vyncke placed eighth in a time of 1:23.82.

In the women’s 100m - T37 final, Sheryl James finished eighth having reached the medal decider after impressing in the heats on Wednesday night.

In the pool, Nathan Hendricks, who has already competed in a number of disciplines at the Paris games, finished in seventh place and did not advance to the final for the men’s 100m breaststroke – SB13.

Hendricks clocked a time of 1:13.04.

In the men’s H1 road race, South Africa’s Nicolas Pieter du Preez did not finish his race. The day before, Du Preez won one of the two bronze medals for Team SA.

With two days of the Paris Paralympics remaining, South Africa’s para athletes will be looking for a strong finish to the event by picking a few more medals.