Cyclist Pieter du Preez secures a bronze medal at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, reflecting on family support and all that he has achieved.
Paris, France (05 September 2024) – (Nicolas) Pieter du Preez has brought home South Africa’s third medal at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. While it wasn’t the medal he had hoped for, he accepted the achievement with grace. “You know, for me, second or third is still losing, but a medal is a medal, so I have to smile even though it’s not the one I wanted,” he remarked. His son, however, provided him with a refreshing perspective, saying, “The bronze is even better than silver because it’s closer to gold.” It’s these little moments that often help athletes maintain perspective.
Reaching the highest levels of sport is a feat few achieve, and those who do often have strong support systems. Pieter, his wife, and his son have been on this journey together, and he is incredibly grateful for their unwavering support. Reflecting on the sacrifices they have made, Pieter became emotional, acknowledging the moments they’ve missed in pursuit of his athletic goals.
Overcoming Personal Challenges
As South Africa’s only cyclist at the Paralympics, Pieter faced additional challenges, including not having a follow car to assist him during the race. Instead, he was supported by someone following him on a bicycle. Although this didn’t significantly affect this particular race, as it was only one loop, he explained that in races with multiple time checks, having that extra support can be crucial for pacing. However, without real-time updates or communication from his team, he simply rode his own race. The defending Paralympic champion from Tokyo secured another medal in Paris, adding to his impressive legacy.
Pieter’s journey, shared with his family, has been nothing short of remarkable. He lives with C6 quadriplegia after being hit by a car at the age of 23 while cycling, yet he refused to give up on his sporting ambitions. Additionally, he is gradually losing his eyesight, which made some corners on the morning’s route particularly difficult for him. Despite this, Pieter believes he wouldn’t have finished any higher on the podium. He acknowledged the strength of his competitors, saying the gold and silver medalists were simply stronger than him on the day. Pieter also gave credit to the other two athletes, with whom he shares a close bond, saying they had “the races of their lives.”
Gratitude and Future Hopes
Pieter expressed gratitude to Deloitte Global, who have supported him in his athletic career by giving him the last five months to prepare for this moment. Looking ahead, he hopes to see more South African cyclists joining the team in the future.
With the World Championships coming up in a few weeks, Pieter plans to take it easy in the road race, viewing it as just for fun. He explained that because it is a mixed classification race, the H2 competitors would have to crash for H1 athletes like himself to avoid getting lapped—a scenario he certainly wouldn’t wish on anyone. Therefore, he intends to enjoy the experience without pressure.
With another medal secured for Team South Africa and the unwavering support of his family, Pieter du Preez can look back on his Paralympic performance with pride. Despite the challenges he’s faced, his hard work and dedication have paid off, and he will take to the road again tomorrow with a smile on his face, ready to enjoy the sport he loves.
Despite being here for over a month, I still can’t fully get over how far apart the venues are. I’m staying in central Paris, and it took me over 75 minutes to get to the cycling venue, and then another 100 minutes to reach the tennis from there. It’s all worth it, but phew, it’s a commitment! Especially for fans during the workweek, but hopefully the athletes still felt the love!
Zareena Gaibee will be on the ground in Paris for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics events, sharing her take on the prestigious sporting event, giving exclusive insights into life at the games, and hopefully meeting many of the South Africans in Paris who are competing and supporting. She will be reporting her findings for Good Things Guy, giving readers a glimpse of what flying the flag in Paris is all about.
You can follow her series via Good Things Guy here.
If you would like to talk about sponsorship of this series, please reach out to us via email here.
by 