Rhodesia competed at the 1972 Summer Paralympics in Heidelberg, West Germany. It was the last time the nation competed at the Paralympic Games before returning as Zimbabwe at the 1980 Summer Paralympics. The delegation consisted of 13 competitors in the sports of track and field athletics and swimming. Three athletes (Avril Davis, Sandra James, and Leslie Manson-Bishop) competed in both sports.
Rhodesia had also been invited to take part in the 1972 Summer Olympics, but the invitation was withdrawn by the International Olympic Committee four days before the opening ceremony, in response to African countries' protests against the Rhodesian regime. As the Paralympics that year were held before the Olympics, Rhodesia was able to take part in the Paralympic Games."1972: Rhodesia out of Olympics", BBC"Rhodesia expelled", Montreal Gazette, 23 August 1972 Under conditions for participation from IOC, Rhodesia had to use British colonial flag and God Save the Queen as their anthem.
Medalists
MedalNameSportEvent Athletics Women's javelin throw 1A Swimming Women's 25 m freestyle 1A Swimming Men's 3×25 m individual medley 4 Athletics Women's shot put 1A Swimming Women's 25 m breaststroke 1A Swimming Women's 25 m breaststroke 1B Swimming Women's 25 m freestyle 1B Swimming Men's 50 m backstroke 4 Athletics Women's discus throw 1A Swimming Men's 100 m backstroke 5 Swimming Men's 25 m freestyle 1B Swimming Men's 50 m breaststroke 4
Athletics
AthleteEventResultRankAvril DavisWomen's discus throw 513.837Avril DavisWomen's javelin throw 510.728Avril DavisWomen's shot put 55.158Sandra JamesWomen's discus throw 1A6.00Sandra JamesWomen's javelin throw 1A5.22Sandra JamesWomen's shot put 1A1.96Leslie Manson-BishopMen's discus throw 422.9510Leslie Manson-BishopMen's javelin throw 420.086Leslie Manson-BishopMen's shot put 47.0011Leslie Manson-BishopMen's pentathlon 4328512Keith PienaarMen's discus throw 519.2915Keith PienaarMen's javelin throw 515.3622Keith PienaarMen's shot put 56.9616Keith PienaarMen's pentathlon 520198
Swimming
Men AthleteEventHeatsFinalResultRankResultRankKevin English100 m backstroke 51:30.3723 Q1:27.476Kevin English100 m freestyle 51:33.12511did not advanceKevin English3x50 m individual medley 52:50.7358did not advanceDerek Gray100 m breaststroke 52:08.2866 Q2:00.7085Derek Gray100 m freestyle 51:29.8479did not advanceDerek Gray3x50 m individual medley 52:00.04212did not advanceDavid Holland25 m backstroke 1B35.87 Q36.16David Holland25 m freestyle 1BN/A31.3Leslie Manson-Bishop50 m backstroke 451.48513did not advanceLeslie Manson-Bishop50 m breaststroke 456.61310did not advanceAndrew James Scott50 m backstroke 442.7983 Q42.307Andrew James Scott50 m breaststroke 449.7452 Q50.304Andrew James Scott3x25 m individual medley 41:12.32 Q1:10.6Unknown3x100 m medley relay 5–6 N/A5:01.9826
Women AthleteEventHeatsFinalResultRankResultRankAvril Davis100 m backstroke 52:30.25111did not advanceAvril Davis100 m freestyle 52:09.5179did not advanceStephanie Gillies25 m backstroke 239.69did not advanceStephanie Gillies25 m breaststroke 237.67 Q36.87Stephanie Gillies25 m freestyle 237.78 Q36.36Sandra James25 m backstroke 1AN/A1:47.36Sandra James25 m breaststroke 1AN/A1:13.3Sandra James25 m freestyle 1AN/A1:10.0 Willemina Kruger100 m breaststroke 62:34.6186 Q2:35.4056Willemina Kruger100 m freestyle 61:49.4637 Q1:47.6127Lizette Nel25 m backstroke 248.117did not advanceLizette Nel25 m breaststroke 256.314did not advanceLizette Nel25 m freestyle 248.910did not advanceEileen Robertson25 m backstroke 1B45.06did not advanceEileen Robertson25 m breaststroke 1BN/A52.9Eileen Robertson25 m freestyle 1BN/A52.7Elizabeth Weppener100 m backstroke 52:03.5508did not advanceElizabeth Weppener100 m freestyle 52:05.8178 Q1:59.8088Elizabeth Weppener3x25 m individual medley 41:33.44 Q1:48.86
References