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05 June 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer
Louzanne Coetzee
Athlete Louzanne Coetzee with the trophy of the Free State Sports Association for the Physically Disabled as Sports Star of the Year.

Although challenging, very exciting and a new journey, says Louzanne Coetzee about the athletics year for which she has been recognised.

The 26-year-old, who is doing her master’s in Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Studies at the University of the Free State, won the Free State Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (FSSAPD) Sports Star of the Year award for a fourth consecutive time. This was for the period June 2018 to April 2019.

In that time, she set a world record, an Africa record, and ran two marathons in which she came amazingly close to a second world record.

Only in her second marathon at the Berlin Marathon in September, the Paralympian fell 26 seconds short of the T11 (totally blind) world record time. She met the qualifying time for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo during the London Marathon in April.

“Marathons are definitely challenging and a new field for me, but I would say it has been a good 12 months. My aim is now set on next year’s Paralympic Games, where I would like to compete in the marathon and the 1 500 m.”

“I hope to run a good time in the 1 500 m at the World Para Athletics Championships in November.”

At the SASAPD National Championships for physically disabled and visually impaired athletes in April 2019, Coetzee won three gold medals and set a record in the 1 500 m. 

Others from the UFS also honoured

Coetzee has received several awards in her career, but says it is always special to be rewarded by her own federation (FSSAPD). 

Danie Breitenbach (T11) was also honoured as the Senior Male Sports Star. He bagged two gold medals and one silver and set a SA record in both the 800 m and 1 500 m at the nationals. Another Kovsie, Dineo Mokhosoa (F36 – coordination impairments), received a merit award for her gold medal in shot-put and silver in the discus at the national champs.

News Archive

"Boer Manie se melk word suur" no sour story
2010-02-17

Pictured, from the left, front, are the actors: Keogh (Boer Manie), Kotzé (Bella de Vries) and Strydom (Neelsie). Back: Fourie (Tersia Tandeheks) – Lize du Plessis
Photo: Lize du Plessis

The Department of Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently presented a jam-packed Drama Festival. The festival gave actors, directors and script-writers on campus the opportunity to show what they are capable of.

Heinrich Keogh and Ilne Fourie combined forces to present a production suitable for young and old. “Boer Manie se melk word suur” tells the story of Farmer Manie, his son Neelsie, his cow Bella and the evil Tersia Tandeheks, a witch who tries to turn the entire world’s milk sour by using magic. Her conniving plans create chaos on Madeliefie Vlei, where all the characters live.

The four actors, Heinrich Keogh (Boer Manier), Ilne Fourie (Tersia Tandeheks), Mart Kotzé (Bella de Vries) and Walter Strydom (Neelsie) clearly have a passion for acting. They climb into the bodies of their characters – something they have to learn when studying at the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts.

According to Keogh, who also directed “Boer Manie se melk word suur”, the play receives positive feedback.

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