PARALYMPICS 2024: 'Athletics is a tool I use to represent God' - Para-athlete Liezel Gouws
The T37 sprinter and long jumper previously competed in the 2016 Rio Games and the Tokyo 2020 Games held in 2021 due to COVID-19.
Para-athlete Liezel Gouws will represent South Africa at the 2024 Paralympics in track and field. Picture: Andries Kruger/ Facebook.
JOHANNESBURG – Paralympian Liezel Gouws had a stroke when she was five years old and now at age 25 she’s at her 3rd Paralympic Games.
The T37 sprinter and long jumper previously competed in the 2016 Rio Games and the Tokyo 2020 Games held in 2021 due to COVID-19.
"Yes, so in primary school, I did literally everything that I was able to do. I participated in netball and hockey, and I did swimming, horse riding, tennis, everything. And when I was grade seven, I started doing cross country and athletics for my school, and I have two older brothers and a lot of cousins who also did athletics and cross country and stuff," said Gouws.
T37 is a disability sport classification for athletics in track and jump events. It includes people who have coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis.
"I've competed in 2016 at Rio and in 2021 in Tokyo. As I go into Paris, I think my goal every time, at every race, every platform is definitely to chase my personal best times and distances," Gouws told Eyewitness News.
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In 2016, she finished 7th in the 400m and at Tokyo 2020 she finished 5th, but this will be the first time she represents the country in the long jump at the Paralympics as she only started the discipline this year.
“I only started with the long jump at the beginning of this year, so it's something brand new for me. I didn't do it at the school level at all. It's literally a brand new event for me, so I'm looking forward to that. I think there are still big jumps left that need to be jumped so hoping for a personal base distance in that.”
Mentally, she prepares for competitions with the help of a mental coach and focuses on her faith. She says people often overlook the importance of good mental health.
"I think that's an aspect most people overlook. I think mentally, you have to be fitter than physically. I've walked a long journey with that also being so fit on the track, but mentally I'm just not there, and then the big stage and the big moment get to me," said Gouws.
She tells Eyewitness News that the main thing to keep in mind is why you are doing something.
"I keep in mind that athletics is not who I am, but it's just a tool that I can use to actually represent God there, and to use my talents and abilities to give all the glory to Him."
Gouws made her international debut in 2013 and went on to break the world record in the 800m T37 women’s competition in 2015 and 2018.
You can catch Gouws's jump on 1 September at 10:00. For a detailed breakdown of more Paralympic Games events, click here.
