The anatomy of a racing chair
Wheelchair racing has come a long way since it made its debut at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 1964 , with athletes participating in chairs that looked like they came straight out of a hospital passage .
Fast-forward 60-odd years , racing chairs have evolved into finely tuned , aerodynamic speed machines .
Built in accordance with World Para Athletics rules , racing wheelchairs feature two large wheels on the sides and a smaller one in the front , have a braking system and hand-operated steering , and may not contain any mechanical devices that preserve energy .
Competitive wheelchair athletes also have custommade 3D printed rubber gloves based on their individual hand measurements , as well as wet weather gloves with suede or resin for extra grip in rain or high humidity .
It ’ s an expensive sport : An entry level racing chair takes approximately 6 weeks to manufacture and customise , and will cost approximately R110,000 , whereas a full carbon chair will come with a R600,000 price tag and a 6-month wait .
The cost , lack of sponsorship and the fact that it takes the average wheelchair athlete three to five years before they can truly be competitive , create a significant barrier to entry for a South African adaptive athlete who wishes to compete on a world stage .
Creating a platform for increased exposure & opportunities
Including adaptive athletes at mass participation
events is not a new concept in South Africa , and there are a number of events in the country that cater exclusively for people in wheelchairs . Races like the Cape Town Cycle Tour has had an elite hand cycling division for many years , and thanks to the efforts of organisations like the Chaeli Campaign , cycling , running and triathlon events have allowed assisted participation .
However , the addition of an elite wheelchair racing division to the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon marks the first time that an international contingent of elite wheelchair athletes gets to race a traditional marathon on African soil – an important milestone for the country and continent , and a dream come true for Van Dyk who has been lobbying for the inclusion and recognition of wheelchair racing within a mass participation space .
“ There are a number of events in the country , like the Outeniqua Wheelchair Challenge , that cater exclusively for people in wheelchairs , but the addition of a wheelchair division in a traditional
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