MEC Leeto congratulates Louzanne Coetzee and her guide, Khothatso Mokone on their inclusion in Team SA for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
The Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mrs. NS Leeto would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Free State athletes Louzanne Coetzee (Blind Athlete) and her guide Khothatso Mokone on their inclusion in Team SA to take part in the Rio 2016 Paralympic games in September.
After the success of Wayde van Niekerk that broke the first track and field world record of the Olympic Games with a blistering 43.03 second run, it is with pride that the Free State will again be represented by these athletes as a product of the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation’s commitment to sport excellence.
Coetzee and Mokone will participate in the 1500m T11 track event. Both these athletes are part of the EACS (Elite Athlete and Coach Support) programme of the FSSSI and receive support from the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation in the form of Sport Science Conditioning, Rehabilitation etc.
Louzanne was born with Leber’s congenital amaurosis and participates as a visually impaired athlete. Khothatso is Louzanne’s guide on the track and together they make a winning team. Louzanne and Khothatso won 3 gold medals at the 2016 Nedbank National Championships in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m. They are also the Africa Champions and the World Record holders in the 5000m T11 class.
Congratulating the athletes, MEC Leeto said, “We are immensely proud as the people of the Free State to have talented individuals like these in our midst. They are a testament to what dedication and hard work can achieve, and it is an honour to associate with world class athletes as a province. We trust that all the hard work will pay off and bring the Province and the Country yet another medal. The inclusion of these athletes is again a testament of the Free State Provincial Government’s commitment to sport excellence.”
Enquiries:
Tankiso Zola
Director: Communication and IT
Cell: 082 940 2392
Tel: 051 – 410 4742/4786/4719
Email: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
