South Africa at the 1972 Summer Paralympics

South Africa sent a team to compete at the 1972 Summer Paralympics held in Heidelberg, West Germany, from August 2 to 11.[1] They sent twenty five competitors, twelve male and thirteen female.[1] The team won forty-one medals—sixteen gold, twelve silver and thirteen bronze—and finished fourth in the medal table.[2]

South Africa at the 1972 Summer Paralympics
IPC code	RSA
NPC	South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee
Website	www.sascoc.co.za
in Heidelberg
Competitors	25
Medals Ranked 4th	Gold 16 Silver 12 Bronze 13 Total 41
Summer Paralympics appearances
1964 1968 1972 1976 1980–1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020

Despite being banned from the Olympic Games, because of the policy of apartheid, since 1964 South Africa continued to participate in the Paralympics until 1976.[3]

Disability classifications

Athletes at the Paralympics in 1972 were all afflicted by spinal cord injuries and required the use of a wheelchair.[4] This is in contrast to later Paralympics that include events for participants that fit into any of five different disability categories; amputation, either congenital or sustained through injury or illness; cerebral palsy; wheelchair athletes; visual impairment, including blindness; Les autres, any physical disability that does not fall strictly under one of the other categories, for example dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.[5][6] Each Paralympic sport then has its own classifications, dependent upon the specific physical demands of competition. Events are given a code, made of numbers and letters, describing the type of event and classification of the athletes competing.[7]

Archery

South Africa entered five of its twenty five competitors, two male and three female.[8] They won four medals, two gold and two silver.[9]

Athletics

Nineteen of the South African delegation entered athletics events, nine male and ten female.[10] They won seventeen medals, five gold, six silver, six bronze.[11]

Lawn Bowls

South Africa entered two of its thirty seven competitors, both female.[12] They won two medals, one gold and one silver.[13]

Swimming

South Africa entered nine of its thirty seven competitors, four male and five female.[8] They won eighteen medals, eight gold, three silver, seven bronze.[14]

References

1. "Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. 1972. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
2. "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
3. "The Netherlands against Apartheid – 1970s". International Institute of Social History. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
4. "Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
5. "Paralympics categories explained". ABC. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
6. "Making sense of the categories". BBC Sport. 6 October 2000. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
7. "A-Z of Paralympic classification". BBC Sport. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
8. "Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. 1972. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
9. "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games Archery". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
10. "Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. 1972. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
11. "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games Athletics". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
12. "Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. 1972. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
13. "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games Lawn Bowls". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
14. "Medal Standings Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games Swimming". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 June 2011.