Paralympian wins hearts, minds
ROB KNOWLES
PARALYMPICS golden girl Ilsa Hayes took time off from training to visit her old alma mater, Kenton Primary School, last Friday and share her success story with the children there.Hayes won gold at the London 2012 Paralympics in the long jump and a silver medal in the women's 100m T13 final.
Accompanied by her husband Cassie Carstens and mother Ina Hayes, the partially blind athlete spoke before the entire school who had gathered for the occasion.
"It is a great privilege for me to play a
role in other people’s lives,” she told the children, who were obviously excited
to hear from a successful and famous former student.The pupils asked a barrage of questions
such as, "How did you feel winning a gold medal?” and "How do you know when to
jump?”
SHOWING THE KIDS: Paralympian Ilsa Hayes,
who won a gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics, shared her story in a
motivational speech to the children at her old school, Kenton Primary School,
last Friday Picture: ROB KNOWLES
With reference to the run-up at the long jump she advised the children not to look at the plank.
"That may make you lose focus and affect the distance you can achieve,” said Hayes. "Rather get your rhythm right and know where the plank is. After all, practice makes perfect.”However, she was quick to point out that she had three no-jumps in London, and that even the professionals sometimes get it wrong.
She also told the children how, just before the Paralympics, she tore a leg muscle which almost prevented her from competing.Hayes said winning the gold was a very emotional moment.
"With a torn leg muscle, and not knowing whether I would be physically capable of competing, it was a very emotional win,” she said.She also said that the team spirit at the Paralympics and within the South African team was very high.
Hayes learned she had a visual problem when she was six years old and attending Kenton Primary School. Whereas normal-sighted people can see clearly to a distance of about 60m, Hayes’ range of vision is only around four to six metres.The medals from London were added to her bronze medal in the 400m at the Athens 2004 Paralympics, and her gold in the long jump plus silver in the 400m at the next Paralympics in Beijing in 2008.
She told the children that her first gold medal was the most amazing feeling, but that the spirit in London was equally fantastic."In Athens and Beijing the organisers gave away tickets to fill the stadiums. In London the stadiums were full and sold out all the time,” she said, which indicated the growing popularity of the Paralympics.
"A total of 2.7-million people attended London 2012, and that does not include the many more millions who watched the tournament on the TV all around the world.”Hayes and her husband live in Stellenbosch where she trains twice a day, six days a week.
