Palesa Manaleng30 August 2024 | 12:25

PARALYMPICS 2024: Swimmer Nathan Hendricks advances to the final in the men's S13 100m backstroke

The 18-year-old from Middelburg, Mpumalanga is one of the youngest Team SA members in Paris.

PARALYMPICS 2024: Swimmer Nathan Hendricks advances to the final in the men's S13 100m backstroke

Para-athlete Nathan Hendricks will represent South Africa at the 2024 Paralympics in Swimming. Picture: Supplied.

JOHANNESBURG - Para-swimmer Nathan Hendricks has qualified for a place in the final of the men's S13 100m backstroke.

The South African finished 5th in his heat at 1:03.5 on Friday and will compete in the final at 19:44.

On Thursday night, he finished 8th in the men's S13 100m butterfly final.

The 18-year-old from Middelburg, Mpumalanga, is one of the youngest Team SA members in Paris.

S13 means athletes have the least severe vision impairment eligible for paralympic sports. They have the highest visual acuity and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees radius.

Hendricks won the 2022 Para Swimmer of the Year Award at the Mpumalanga Swimming Awards.

Meanwhile, fellow South African Jaco Smit finished 2nd in his heat with a time of 11.12 in the T12 classification. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to qualify for the next round.  

T12 is for runners with a visual impairment. T12 athletes have the option to run with a Guide Runner or run independently.

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