Jansen wins bronze at Berlin Grand Prix
Dian Jansen won Namibia's fifth medal at the 2018 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Berlin Grand Prix on Sunday, after throwing a personal best for the year in the shot put event.
Jansen, who competes in shot put, discus and javelin in the F44 category, became the fourth athlete out of the eight representing Namibia to walk away with a medal from the event.
The young Namibian, who was making his debut at a senior international competition, threw 9.51m in the new 6kg shot put category, for a personal best.
The gold medal went to Tom Habscheid from Luxembourg, who threw a distance of 14.79m while Frank Tinnemeier from Germany walked away with a silver medal for throwing a distance of 13.03m.
At junior level, Jansen threw in the 5kg shot put.
Speaking to Nampa on Sunday after the event, team coach Michael Hamukwaya said he was happy to see Jansen walking away with a medal, as it is good motivation for him as an athlete.
“I did not expect us to win a medal in the field event, due to the more experienced competitors that were there, but I am happy to see the young man walk away with that medal today in his debut year at the Grand Prix,” he added.
He described Jansen's medal win as a blessing for the team that only wins on the track and not in field events.
“The last time we won a medal at a huge international event was 10 years ago when Reginald Benade was still competing in the field events and to see us having a young man who still has many years in him as an athlete win, makes me excited on his behalf and the Namibia Paralympic Committee,” the coach said.
Team Namibia has five medals at the two-day competition – a gold, two silvers and two bronze.
NAMPA
Jansen, who competes in shot put, discus and javelin in the F44 category, became the fourth athlete out of the eight representing Namibia to walk away with a medal from the event.
The young Namibian, who was making his debut at a senior international competition, threw 9.51m in the new 6kg shot put category, for a personal best.
The gold medal went to Tom Habscheid from Luxembourg, who threw a distance of 14.79m while Frank Tinnemeier from Germany walked away with a silver medal for throwing a distance of 13.03m.
At junior level, Jansen threw in the 5kg shot put.
Speaking to Nampa on Sunday after the event, team coach Michael Hamukwaya said he was happy to see Jansen walking away with a medal, as it is good motivation for him as an athlete.
“I did not expect us to win a medal in the field event, due to the more experienced competitors that were there, but I am happy to see the young man walk away with that medal today in his debut year at the Grand Prix,” he added.
He described Jansen's medal win as a blessing for the team that only wins on the track and not in field events.
“The last time we won a medal at a huge international event was 10 years ago when Reginald Benade was still competing in the field events and to see us having a young man who still has many years in him as an athlete win, makes me excited on his behalf and the Namibia Paralympic Committee,” the coach said.
Team Namibia has five medals at the two-day competition – a gold, two silvers and two bronze.
NAMPA
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