Ernst van Dyk

Ernst Francois van Dyk OIS (born 4 April 1973) is a South African wheelchair racer and handcyclist. He has won a record 10 wheelchair titles in the Boston Marathon.[1] He was also awarded the Laureus World Sports Awards for Sportsperson with a Disability of the year for 2006. At the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, he won a bronze medal in the 400 metres. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, he won a silver medal in the 800 metre race, another silver in the 1500 metres, and a bronze in the 5000 metres. At the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing van Dyk won gold in the handcycling road race as well as bronze in the wheelchair marathon. Other handcycling achievements include: Obtaining a silver and bronze medal at the 2009 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships held in Italy and taking double gold (road race and time trial) at the 2007 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships held in Bordeaux.

Ernst van Dyk
van Dyk at the 2014 Boston Marathon
Personal information
Birth nameErnst Francois van Dyk
NationalitySouth African
Born (1973-04-04) 4 April 1973
Ceres, South Africa
Websiteernstvandyk.com
Sport
DisabilityCongenital – Genetic
Disability classT54
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals2000
2004
2008
2012
Medal record
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Paralympic Games 2 3 3
World Championships 2 1 2
Representing  South Africa
Men's paralympic athletics
Paralympic Games
2004 Athens 800 m T54
2004 Athens 1500 m T54
2000 Sydney 400 m T54
2004 Athens 5000 m T54
2008 Beijing Marathon T54
Men's paralympic cycling
Paralympic Games
2008 Beijing Road race HC–C
2016 Rio de Janeiro Road race H5
2012 London Road race H4
Ernst Van Dyk (23) at the start of the 2015 London Marathon

Career

Van Dyk was born with congenital absence of both legs. His parents, two provincial-level athletes, recognized his athletic abilities and encouraged sports participation. At first he went to school in Graaff-Reinet, but the school couldn't cater for him. He then attended the Elizabeth Conradie School for disabled children in Kimberley. He competed as a swimmer nationally in his teens. In 1992 he enrolled in Stellenbosch University and competed in the Barcelona Paralympics as a swimmer and wheelchair athlete. Thereafter, he concentrated on wheelchair athletics.

Major results
Year Boston Marathon[2] New York City Marathon Paris Marathon Los Angeles Marathon London Marathon Great North Run
2001 1:25:12
2002 1:23:19 1:45:16 1:28:44
2003 1:28:32 1:35:36
2004 1:18:27
2005 1:24:11 1:31.11
2006 1:25:29 1:24:48 (CR)
2007 42:35
2008 1:26:49
2009 1:33:29 1:28:59
2010 1:26:53
2011 1:18:51
2012
2013 1:40:14 1:31:30
2014 1:20:36 1:30:56 1:32:42
2015 1:36:27 1:30:54 1:31:38
2016 1:24:06 1:35:23
WR – World Record
CR – Course record

His ninth win in the 2010 Boston Marathon was a record for that event in any class. As of 21 April 2014 he has won ten. On 20 April 2010 the South African government announced that van Dyk will be awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in silver for his achievements in sport.[3]

Personal life

Van Dyk's company, Enabled Sport, deals in equipment for athletes with disabilities. He lives in Paarl, Western Cape with his wife and daughter.[4][5]

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References
  1. SABC. "SABC News.com – SAs Van Dyk steals limelight at Boston Marathon:Monday 21 April 2014". Sabc.co.za. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  2. "Past Champions". 216.235.243.43. 25 March 2014. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  3. "Ernst Van Dyk". Laureus. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  4. "SA's King of Boston". Modern Athlete. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  5. "Ernst van Dyk". Enabled Sport. Retrieved 21 April 2014.


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