SA athlete Ernst van Dyk is hard done by at Paralympic games

Date: 21 Sep 2004
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

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.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01New24,'Van Dyk cut off, loses gold' ,[online], available at: news24.com [accessed 13 September 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). SA athlete Ernst van Dyk is hard done by at Paralympic games. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013598

South African History Online (2011) 'SA athlete Ernst van Dyk is hard done by at Paralympic games', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013598 (Accessed: 24 August 2026).

South African History Online, SA athlete Ernst van Dyk is hard done by at Paralympic games [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013598, (accessed 24 August 2026).

"SA athlete Ernst van Dyk is hard done by at Paralympic games." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013598. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "SA athlete Ernst van Dyk is hard done by at Paralympic games." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013598.