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27 August 2021 | Story Ruan Bruwer
Louzanne Coetzee at the Paralympics in Tokyo with her two guides, Claus Kempen (left) and Estean Badenhorst. She is one of 34 members in Team South Africa.

For some athletes, the postponement of the Paralympics was a big frustration, but for Louzanne Coetzee it was a ‘blessing in disguise’.

According to the former University of the Free State (UFS) student and current Residence Head of Akasia on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus, she was more than happy to get another 12 months to prepare herself to the very best of her ability. She will be in action at the Tokyo Paralympics in the 1 500 m on Sunday (29 August 2021) and Monday (30 August). On 5 September, she will tackle the marathon. It is her second Paralympics. 

“This is the most exited I have ever been for an event. It has been so long since I was able to compete on a high level. I think it is a blessing in disguise. It allowed me more time to prepare. I’m in a great state and I cannot wait,” she said.

In the 1 500 m, Coetzee will be guided by Estean Badenhorst. In the marathon she will run next to Claus Kempen, with whom she has completed a couple of marathons before.
“They are both very experienced and I’m fortunate to have such a great team with me. When you are running an event like the 1 500 m, you need to fully trust your guide with his decision making.”

“The main focus is the track item. I won’t put too much pressure on myself in the marathon. The prime goal is to gain experience in the longer distance, because that is where I’ll be shifting in the future,” she explained.

The South African 1 500 m record holder in the T11 classification (totally blind) clocked a personal best time of 4:51.65 in 2019. She is the world record holder in the 5 000 m; however, the item does not feature on the Paralympic programme. 

News Archive

Five from UFS’s Department Quantity Surveying win prestigious awards
2014-11-17

 

Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

The University of the Free State (UFS) is very proud of five of its students who won the Kenneth K. Humphrey award at the recent International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) conference held in Milan, Italy. Justin Haselau received the outstanding paper award. His study leader was Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, Head of the Department of Quantity Surveying at the UFS.

The ICEC is an organisation aimed at promoting cooperation between national and multinational cost engineering, quantity surveying and project management organisations worldwide, to the benefit of the industry and that of individual members.

The students received this prestigious award for the outstanding papers they delivered. The award is presented to authors under the age of 36.  Submissions come from all over the world and were adjudicated by an independent panel.

The other recipients were:

1.      Marique Kamperbeek – (study leader: Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, 2013)
2.      Tshego Matshwi – (study leader: Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, 2013)
3.      Matlakal Radebe – (study leader: Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, 2013)
4.      Elana Malherbe – (study leader: Dr Benita Zulch, 2012)

The winning papers were included in the electronic version of the ICEC’s International Cost Management Journal (ICMJ).

This is already the third time the university has won these awards.

Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, Head of the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS, says she is very proud of these achievements.

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