South Africa made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympics as Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi secured the continent’s first ever wheelchair tennis medal. The dynamic duo clinched bronze in the quad doubles after a nail-biting bronze medal match against Brazilians Leandro Pena and Ymanitu Silva.
The South African pair showcased their tenacity and skill, ultimately triumphing 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 in a match that went down to the wire. Their victory added another medal to South Africa’s growing Paralympic haul, bringing their total to four.
The gold medal in the quad doubles went to Dutch duo Niels Vink and Sam Schroder, who dominated the final match against Britain’s Andy Lapthorne and Greg Slade, winning 6-1, 6-1.
For Ramphadi, who developed brittle bone disease at the age of 12, this medal marks a significant achievement. The 31-year-old tennis star, who won the French Open doubles last year with Lapthorne and reached the doubles finals at the last two Australian Open tournaments, expressed his joy and gratitude.
“This venue is something special. Last year I won my first Grand Slam here on my birthday, and now I have a Paralympic bronze medal. For me, to be here and winning a medal is crazy – I am just going to enjoy the moment,” Ramphadi said.
Sithole, who lost his legs in a train accident at age 12, mirrored Ramphadi’s excitement. He has an impressive track record, having won the US Open singles in 2013 and the Australian Open doubles three years later.
“It is our first big medal playing together and we’re very happy to write history,” Sithole said. “I was so happy to play with Donald today. He brought his A-game, even though he was nervous and made double faults – he owes me a whiskey… We were here to win today, not just represent,” he added.
The bronze medal victory is a testament to the dedication, skill, and unwavering spirit of Sithole and Ramphadi. Their achievement is a source of pride for South Africa and a powerful reminder of the remarkable feats that can be achieved in the face of adversity.
