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Two records in two days, as well as a new world record. This is what Louzanne Coetzee, star para-athlete of the University of the Free State (UFS), accomplished.  Coetzee and her guide, Xavier Adams, competed in the final leg of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix series in Berlin, Germany, on 1 July 2018. She broke her own world record in the 5 000 m in the T11 (totally blind) category by nearly 14 seconds. The new record now stands at 18:00.34.

The day before, Coetzee set the stakes in the 800 m race to 2:25.87, which won her a silver medal. 
 
She later clinched the bronze in the 1 500 m race with a finishing time of 5:08.71.  Coetzee’s previous world record stood for little over a year. “I ran under favourable conditions, and I am in pretty good shape thanks to my coach, Rufus Botha.” She added, “It was also nice to run with Xavier, he is a very good guide. I really enjoyed myself because it’s always a blessing to run.” 

25-year-old Louzanne will be completing her master’s in Reconciliation and Social Cohesion at the UFS this year. She is also the South African record-holder in the 1 500 m (4:52:67), which she set at the IAAF World Championships in London, England in July 2017.