Tyrone aims for gold
SOUTH Africa’s 10-medal haul at the Rio Olympics has pleased the nation, but there’s more to come – and Durban’s Paralympic shot-putter Tyrone Pillay is confident of adding to this tally.
Pillay competes in the F42 class, for those with an amputation above the knee. He had an abnormality from birth.
From a young age Pillay took an interest in sport, and he tried out soccer and cricket, but his disability prevented him from taking it any further than at a social level.
Then in 2008 Pillay watched the Paralympic Games in Beijing and his sporting aspirations were reignited.
“I carried too much weight to try out track events and I decided that I could use my weight to my advantage by trying out for shot-put.”
He started training in earnest and over the years notched up a number of achievements.
Among them were third place at the London Anniversary Games in 2013; fourth place at the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) World Championships in Lyon in 2013; KZN Sportsman of the Year with a disability in 2014; KZN Sports Personality of the Year in 2014.
He took third place at the German IPC Grand Prix in (2014 and 2015); fourth at the IPC World Championships in Doha in 2015 and first place at the IPC Grand Prix events in Brazil (2014) and Italy (2015).
He also took first at the African Games in Brazzaville, Congo in 2015; and Top 10 world ranking for the past five years.
Pillay is one of a team of 45 athletes with disabilities who will take part in the Paralympic Games that will take place in Rio from September 7. And he has the pedigree to feel confident about his chances of finishing among the medals.
In May this year, Pillay won a gold medal at the IPC Track and Field meeting in Rio de Janeiro. The 36-yearold Reservoir Hills sports star was chuffed to have achieved a personal best throw at that event.
After his personal best throw, he was quoted in POST as saying: “It was a great victory. I was in second place when I launched a throw of 13.49m. This was the second-furthest throw by a South African Paralympian of all time. I knew I always had it in me. I guess the BMT (big match temperament) on the day came out, as well as the pride of being there competing for our great country.”
In preparation for the Paralympic Games, Pillay spent two weeks earlier this month in Denmark, where he worked on improving his technique and gaining maximum distance with the shot-put.
“I have since then beaten my best throwing distance while practising, but then a competition scenario is completely different.”
Pillay, ranked fourth in his category, said that ranking counted for little when competing on the world stage with national pride at stake.
He said being selected to represent South Africa was an honour, but having his mom and girlfriend there to cheer him on would be his inspiration to perform to the best of his ability.
Added to this, Sascoc has provided further financial incentives for the Paralypians who bring home medals.
A gold medal finish will earn the athlete R400 000, a silver is worth R100 00 and a bronze medal finish will earn the athlete R80 000.
Pillay will compete on September 12 at 5am (SA time) and he wants all South Africans to support him in his quest for that gold medal.
You can send him messages of support on Twitter #pillaytyrone.
Let’s get behind our local competitor and flood him with messages of support.