Ernst van Dyk

Ernst van Dyk

van Dyk at the 2014 Boston Marathon
Personal information
Birth name	Ernst Francois van Dyk
Nationality	South African
Born	(1973-04-04) 4 April 1973 Ceres, South Africa
Website	ernstvandyk.com
Sport
Disability	Congenital - Genetic
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals	2000 2004 2008 2012
Medal record Paralympic Games 1 Representing South Africa Paralympic athletics Paralympic Games 2004 Athens 800 metres - T54 2004 Athens 1500 metres - T54 2000 Sydney 400 metres - T54 2004 Athens 5000 metres - T54 2008 Beijing Marathon - T54 Paralympic cycling Paralympic Games 2008 Beijing Road race - HC - C 2012 London Road race - H4

Ernst Van Dyk (23) at the start of the 2015 London Marathon

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. 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 World Championships held in Italy and taking double gold (road race and time trial) at the 2007 UCI World Championships held in Bordeaux.

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	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
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.

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.

External links

• Official site of Ernst Van Dyk