PARALYMPICS 2024: Swimmer Alani Ferreira hopes to podium at this year's games
Ferreira, who was diagnosed with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy at age 12, discusses her strategy for her third Paralympic Games, which start on 28 August.
Alani Ferreira won a bronze medal at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester. Picture: Alani Ferreira/Facebook
JOHANNESBURG - Alani Ferreira is heading to her third Paralympics Games, with high hopes of finally making it to the podium.
“Rio was my first Paralympic Games, so it was a learning curve for me. I didn't make a final, unfortunately, but I gained some good experience, and then in Tokyo, I didn't achieve what I wanted to. I also didn't manage to even make a final, so I'm hoping to do better now in Paris, and hopefully make the podium in the 100m breast.”
Ferreira will start the Games with the 400m freestyle, which she tells Eyewitness News is one of her favourite styles, despite the 100m breaststroke being her focus.
She is one of a number of athletes profiled by Eyewitness News ahead of Wednesday's games.
“It's kind of just a fun opening event; just to get going and getting the feel. And then the day before my 100m breast, I've got 100-meter freestyle, which is literally just to get some speed work going. And then the 100m breast is the main focus.”
Alani Ferreira. Picture: Supplied
Ferreira competes in the SB12 category for swimmers with a visual impairment who have a restricted field of view. Some cannot see the black line on the bottom of the pool, but can see the end of the lane from one metre away.
The Paralympian was diagnosed with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy at age 12, after noticing delays when playing tennis and trouble sight-reading the piano.
“So, I am a visually impaired swimmer and have a genetic eye disorder called Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy that started affecting me around the age of six, but was only diagnosed at age 12. Essentially, the disorder has led to me having no central vision, and a loss of depth perception.”
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The athlete swam at her first Paralympic Games in 2018, and won her first World Champs medal in Manchester. She hopes to compete at a few Para Swimming World Series events, with the goal of representing South Africa in the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024.
“What I always love about Para sporting events is that disability is viewed as a norm. We use our strengths to assist where others may have weaknesses, and I believe that this should be something that is a universal practice,” said Ferreira.
You can catch Ferreira's first swim on 29 August at 09:30. For more information on events for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, click here.