Paralympic win has always been the dream: Ramphadi

 

Newly crowned Paralympic bronze medalist, Donald Ramphadi, says it hasn’t sunk in yet that he is now a Paralympics’ medalist.

Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole made history this week, winning a South Africa’s first medal in Wheelchair Tennis at the Paralympics that are currently taking place in Paris, France.

They managed to overcome Brazilians, Leandro Pena and Ymanitu Silva, 6-2 4-6 10-8 in the bronze medal match.

They’ve done it! 🙌

A massive congratulations to our South African wheelchair tennis stars, Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi, for clinching the bronze medal at the Paralympic Games! 🥉They are the first South Africans to win a wheelchair tennis medal at the @Paralympics.

What… pic.twitter.com/D2NzU7mJeE

— Tennis South Africa (@TennisSA) September 4, 2024

Speaking exclusively to YSport, Ramphadi says he has waited many years for this moment, adding that he worked very hard to get to the world stage.

Dutch duo Niels Vink and Sam Schroder won the gold medal match after defeating Britain’s Andy Lapthorne and Greg Slade 6-1 6-1.

South Africa has so far secured four medals at the Paralympics, with a solitary gold and 3 bronze medals – placing the nation in the 41st place in the overall medal table.

The 31-year-old Ramphadi, who developed brittle bone disease at 12, won the French Open doubles last year with Lapthorne and was a finalist in doubles at the last two editions of the Australian Open.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported me in this journey. It has been tough, especially when I didn’t have any sponsor,” says Ramphadi.

Sithole (37) lost his legs in a train accident at age 12.

The pair will land back in the country on Friday at the OR Tambo International Airport.

Messages of congratulations have been pouring in on social media for the medalists.

Black is beautiful

Congratulations team pic.twitter.com/kFIbXvJlQG

— Collen Kagiso Mogwera 🇿🇦 (@kagisodoc) September 5, 2024

South African duo Lucas Sithole and Donald Ramphadi secured Africa’s first wheelchair tennis medal after clinching bronze in the quad doubles at the Paris Paralympics on Wednesday🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/RWYnDs6tB8

— Cleopatra Mokokoane (@CleopatraDK) September 5, 2024

Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole. 🇿🇦❤️🎾🔥🔥🔥

History makers! The first Africans to win a medal in Wheelchair Tennis (bronze). 🥉

NO DNA, just RSA!✨pic.twitter.com/7Dj6CFrOJY

— Monwabisi Kete 🇿🇦 (@MonwabisiKete) September 4, 2024

Another Bronze wheelchair medal tennis. Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole. 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/QqDzJVczMf

— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) September 4, 2024

#TuksSport: #ProudlyUP

Huge congratulations to #TuksTennis club member, Donald Ramphadi, for securing bronze in the men’s quad doubles at the Paris 2024 #Paralympics in France! 🇿🇦🎾#Elevate2Greatness ⭐️💡#StripeGeneration 🔴🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/HCpI11VpfJ

— #TuksSport (@TuksSport) September 5, 2024

Lalela, Mzansi is on a roll this year! 🔥
Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole just crushed it, becoming the FIRST South Africans to medal in #WheelchairTennis after an epic 6-2, 4-6, 10-8 bronze medal win! 🎾🔥🥉
History Made! 🇿🇦🙌🫡#loveLifeZA#ForMyCOuntry#TeamSA#Paralympics pic.twitter.com/DHfTcWbKl9

— loveLife (@loveLifeNGO) September 5, 2024

Every time Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole’s video comes up I get goosebumps immeidately 😊🥹

— Zandi Vilakazi🍉 (@ZandylV) September 5, 2024

Just watched the entire tennis match of Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole for the quadriplegic doubles Bronze medal!!!
Wow weee I was chewing my nails with the tie breaker!!

— Blackwater wine (@Blackwaterwine) September 4, 2024