South Africa has competed at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.
The country made its Paralympic début at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan, where it sent nine athletes to compete in archery, athletics, swimming and weightlifting. They finished sixth on the medal table with nineteen medals, of which eight gold. Paradoxically, South Africa thus began to compete at the Paralympics just after being barred from competing at the Olympics. South Africa had been banned from the Olympic Games following the passing of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1761 which, in 1962, condemned the country's policy of apartheid. South Africa was not, however, banned from the Paralympics, and was therefore present at the 1964 Paralympics despite being absent from the 1964 Summer Olympics.South Africa at the Paralympics, International Paralympic Committee
The country continued to compete at the Summer Paralympics until 1976, included.South Africa at the Paralympics, International Paralympic Committee
The States-General (national Parliament) of the Netherlands, the host country of the 1980 Summer Paralympics, adopted a motion declaring South Africa's participation in the 1980 Games "undesirable"."'The Netherlands against Apartheid' - 1970s", International Institute of Social History South Africa was subsequently absent from the Paralympic Games until 1992, at which point it also made its return to the Olympics, in the context of the dismantling of apartheid. It has competed at the Summer Games ever since.South Africa at the Paralympics, International Paralympic Committee
South Africa made its Winter Paralympics début at the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan. It thus became the second African country to compete at the Winter Paralympics, following Uganda in 1976. South Africa has competed at every edition of the Winter Paralympics since then. To date, only one athlete, alpine skier Bruce Warner, has represented South Africa at the Winter Games. He has yet to win a medal.South Africa at the Paralympics, International Paralympic Committee
Medal tables
Medals by Summer Games
Medals by Winter Games
Multi-medalists South African athletes who have won at least three gold medals or five or more medals of any colour. No. Athlete Sport Years Games Gender GoldSilverBronzeTotal1Natalie du Toit2004-20123F1320152Fanie Lombaard2000-20083M62193Oscar Pistorius2004-20123M61184Daniel Erasmus1964-19723M561125Hilton Langenhoven2004-20164M42066Malcolm Pringle1996-20043M33177Ebert Kleynhans1996-20043M31048Michael Louwrens1996-20084M3014Fanie van der Merwe2008-20163M301410Ilse Hayes2004-20164F241711Ernst van Dyk2000-20165M233812Tadhg Slattery1992-20126M2316
See also South Africa at the Olympics
References