LOUZANNE Coetzee, the trailblazing para-athlete from Bloemfontein, has once again made the Free State proud.
On 29 November 2024, she was among the country’s top Olympians and Paralympians honoured by President Cyril Ramaphosa for their outstanding achievements at the Paris 2024 Games.
Coetzee’s stellar performance at the Paralympic Games earned her a bronze medal in the women’s 1 500m T11 event, setting a new personal best of 4:35.49 – a remarkable five seconds faster than her previous record.
The ceremony celebrated South Africa’s success at the Games, with Team South Africa collectively securing 12 medals – six at the Olympics and six at the Paralympics.
Coetzee, competing alongside her guide Estean Badenhorst, delivered her medal-winning performance on 2 September 2024 at the iconic Stade de France.
Her achievement not only marked her second Paralympic medal but also highlighted her standing as a world-class athlete in one of the fastest T11 races ever recorded.
Born on 18 April 1993, Coetzee was diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis, a hereditary condition that left her blind.
Despite this challenge, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible.
Over the years, she has earned a reputation as one of the country’s most inspiring athletes.
In 2017, she broke the 5 000m world record for her class, and in 2018, she became the first visually impaired athlete to compete at the World University Cross Country Championships.
Coetzee’s Paralympic journey began in 2016, and at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics she won silver in the 1 500m and bronze in the T12 marathon, setting a T11 world record of 3:11:13 in the process.
Balancing her sporting career with her role as sport coordinator at KovsieSport and residence head of Akasia Residence at the University of the Free State, Coetzee continues to inspire both on and off the track.
President Ramaphosa lauded Coetzee and her fellow athletes for their resilience, dedication and ability to unite and inspire the nation.
“Your accomplishments remind us of the power of perseverance and the heights that can be reached through hard work,” he said during the event. – Sports Reporter