Anrune Weyers celebrates South Africa’s first gold medal at Dubai 2019 in the women’s 400m T47!
Dubai – South Africa’s first gold medal at the Dubai 2019 World Championships came through a familiar face with a different name.
Anrune Weyers (née Liebenberg) is a South African para-athlete who took up athletics in 2010. With her left arm amputated below the elbow, she competes in the T47 disability class. At the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships she came second in the 400 m but placed sixth in the 200 m. In 2012, she won two medals at the London Paralympics, namely silver in the 400 m and bronze in the 200 m. At the 2013 World Championships she came second in both the 200 m and the 400 m.
Anrune won the women’s 400m T47 at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships with a championship record (55.79), something that not even the 27-year-old sprinter expected to achieve.
“Last year was really tough because of injuries. It has been a miracle to run here because I just had six weeks of training [after a surgery] so this is has been amazing. I’m really thankful to be injury-free and run,” Anrune said.
It was her second world title. Four years after the first one in Doha.
Back then, the name of the gold medallist on the screen was Anrune Liebenberg. But the South African said she decided to use her husband’s surname because of the unconditional support she feels from her partner.
“I am proud to have Weyers on my name now because it’s kind of a part of him with me in athletics. He’s the person who is always me.”
China’s Lu Li took silver (58.61) and Lisbeli Vera of Venezuela, bronze (58.98).
South Africa is currently in 21st place overall with 6 medals; 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze.
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