Willene once again shines at national championships
Just a few months from her 14th birthday, 13 year-old Willene Wiid has once again become the talk of the town after her outstanding performance at the recent South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD) National Championships held in Bloemfontein.
Back in March last year Willene raked in seven gold medals and smashed five records at the 2023 SASAPD competition in Cape Town.
A student at Hopetown High School, this year young Willene showcased her talent in both athletics and cycling, competing in the women’s Under-17 category for athletics and the Under-15 section for cycling.
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The championships, held during the school holidays kicked off on Thursday, March 21, with participants from across the country gathering for the competition.
The very next day, Willene stole the spotlight by clinching gold in both the 3,000m and 1,400m cycling events. Despite narrowly missing her personal best in the 3,000m, her remarkable performance set the tone for the days to come.
Saturday, March 23 was another remarkable day for Willene, this time on the athletics field, as she bagged bronze in the 100m and gold in both the discus throw and long jump. Notably, she shattered the South African long jump record, jumping an impressive 2.42m, and also set a new record in the discus throw with a distance of 17.05m.
Undeterred by her previous successes, Willene continued her winning streak on Sunday, clinching yet another gold medal in the shot put event and setting another personal best distance.
Wrapping up the championships on Monday, Willene secured a silver medal in the javelin throw, further solidifying her position as one of the country’s top athletes in her age group.
Reflecting on her achievements, Willene expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to compete alongside talented athletes from different provinces.
As previously reported, Willene, born in 2010, experienced a stroke at the age of five while on holiday in Hartenbos. The stroke impacted the right side of her body which created challenges for her. Despite being right-handed, she had to relearn basic tasks, including crawling, walking, talking, and writing with her left hand.
Through dedicated effort, rehabilitation, and patience, Willene made gradual progress in her recovery. But after her recovery, she moved on to become a remarkable individual as well as an accomplished athlete.
Indeed, her exceptional performance in the national competitions thus far has not only brought pride to her school and her family but has also inspired many aspiring athletes in the community.
With such promising talent and dedication, there’s no doubt that Willene Wiid has a bright future ahead in the world of sports.