South Africa at the 1972 Summer Paralympics

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Template:Infobox Paralympics South Africa

South Africa sent a team to compete at the 1972 Summer Paralympics held in Heidelberg, West Germany, from August 2 to 11.[1] They sent twenty five competitors, twelve male and thirteen female.[1] The team won forty-one medals—sixteen gold, twelve silver and thirteen bronze—and finished fourth in the medal table.[2]

Despite being banned from the Olympic Games, because of the policy of apartheid, since 1964 South Africa continued to participate in the Paralympics until 1976.[3]

Disability classifications

Athletes at the Paralympics in 1972 were all afflicted by spinal cord injuries and required the use of a wheelchair.[4] This is in contrast to later Paralympics that include events for participants that fit into any of five different disability categories; amputation, either congenital or sustained through injury or illness; cerebral palsy; wheelchair athletes; visual impairment, including blindness; Les autres, any physical disability that does not fall strictly under one of the other categories, for example dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.[5][6] Each Paralympic sport then has its own classifications, dependent upon the specific physical demands of competition. Events are given a code, made of numbers and letters, describing the type of event and classification of the athletes competing.[7]

Archery

Main article: Archery at the 1972 Summer Paralympics

South Africa entered five of its twenty five competitors, two male and three female.[8] They won four medals, two gold and two silver.[9]

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics

Nineteen of the South African delegation entered athletics events, nine male and ten female.[10] They won seventeen medals, five gold, six silver, six bronze.[11]

Lawn Bowls

Main article: Lawn bowls at the 1972 Summer Paralympics

South Africa entered two of its thirty seven competitors, both female.[12] They won two medals, one gold and one silver.[13]

Swimming

Main article: Swimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics

South Africa entered nine of its thirty seven competitors, four male and five female.[8] They won eighteen medals, eight gold, three silver, seven bronze.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. 1972. Retrieved 27 May 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  3. ^ "The Netherlands against Apartheid – 1970s". International Institute of Social History. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  4. ^ "Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Paralympics categories explained". ABC. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Making sense of the categories". BBC Sport. 6 October 2000. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  7. ^ "A-Z of Paralympic classification". BBC Sport. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. 1972. Retrieved 27 May 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games Archery". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  10. ^ "Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. 1972. Retrieved 27 May 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games Athletics". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  12. ^ "Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. 1972. Retrieved 27 May 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games Lawn Bowls". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  14. ^ "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games Swimming". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
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