This Day in History: September 21, 2004
Additional Date: September 21, 2004
Wheelchair-bound South African athlete, Ernst van Dyk, was cut off from a certain gold medal by the Mexican Saul Mendoza during the 1 500m race at the Athens Paralympics games held at the Olympic Stadium. Van Dyk controlled the pace from the gun, but with 200m to go the Mexican came through on the outside and cut the South African off, forcing his left wheel off the ground. As a result Van Dyk's manager Ampie Louw lodged an appeal to have Mendoza disqualified, an outcome, which would move Van Wyk to gold. In the end though, Van Wyk and the team management decided to withdraw the protest.