Proud Bosch does it his way

While his compatriot Ernst van Dyk was challenging for victory at yesterday’s Dubai Marathon, South African wheelchair racer Tiaan Bosch was fighting in obscurity further back in the field, locked in his own personal battle.

Van Dyk, who finished third, competes in the T53 category for athletes with full use of their torsos, but Bosch is a T54 athlete, and his restrictions leave him stranded in search of glory in marathon races where the fields are combined.

Nevertheless, Bosch held on to finish 10th at the Gold Label race in 1:48:11, less than 16 minutes behind his renowned countryman.

“Some of the T53 guys are single-leg amputees, so I can only really concentrate on improving myself, but that keeps me motivated,” Bosch said.

Raised in Secunda, the 36-yearold athlete broke his back in a motorbike accident as a teenager, leaving him with the use of only his arms and shoulders.

After moving to England in 2009, he has continued to carry the SA flag by breaking national records, despite facing the challenges of a full-time job as a procurement manager for a card processing company and receiving a lack of recognition back home.

Confirming this week he would compete in seven marathons this year, Bosch hoped to continue shining for his home country on international roads.

“I moved to the UK for a new challenge but I have the national flag on my chair and my helmet,” he said, “and I’ll always be proudly South African”.

Some of the T53 guys are single-leg amputees, so I can only really concentrate on improving myself, but that keeps me motivated. Tiaan Bosch