Historic Bronze Medal for Africa: Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi Excel at Paris 2024 Paralympics
In a historic achievement for Africa, South African athletes Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi secured the continent’s inaugural wheelchair tennis medal by claiming bronze in the quad doubles event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on Wednesday. The duo triumphed in a gripping match against Brazilian opponents Leandro Pena and Ymanitu Silva, winning 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 in the decisive tiebreak. This victory elevated South Africa’s overall medal count to four at the Games.
The gold medal in the quad doubles was awarded to the Dutch pair Niels Vink and Sam Schroder, who decisively defeated British players Andy Lapthorne and Greg Slade with a score of 6-1, 6-1.
Donald Ramphadi, aged 31, who has battled brittle bone disease since the age of 12, expressed his elation, noting, “This venue is something special. Last year I won my first Grand Slam here on my birthday, and now I have a Paralympic bronze medal. To be here and win a medal is unbelievable – I intend to cherish this moment.” Ramphadi is no stranger to success; he secured the French Open doubles title last year alongside Lapthorne and has been a finalist in doubles at the Australian Open for the past two years.
His compatriot, Lucas Sithole, aged 37, who tragically lost his legs in a train accident at 12, has previously won the US Open singles in 2013 and the Australian Open doubles title in 2016. Reflecting on their joint success, Sithole remarked, “This medal signifies our first major achievement while competing together, and we are thrilled to be part of history. I was delighted to play alongside Donald today. Despite some nervous moments and a few double faults, he truly performed admirably – he owes me a whiskey for that! Our mission was to win, not just to participate.”
The achievements of Ramphadi and Sithole not only highlight their individual talents and resilience but also serve as a source of inspiration for many, marking a significant milestone for paralympic sports in Africa and demonstrating the power of perseverance and teamwork.
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