ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF BEELD STORY 25-040-2013
Story By: Lourenza Eckard, Beeld Journalist
Irene van Niekerk (15) was 1 ½ years old when both her feet were almost amputated after being burned in a bath of boiling water.
Today she is a promising young athlete with about 32 gold medals she won at school and provincial events.
All this she does barefoot and without most of her toes.
"I have always told her that her feet cant hold her back. She has to make a success of life, regardless of her disability, "her mother, Irene said.
A nanny accidentally put her daughter in a bathtub full of hot water when she was a baby. The nanny did not notice one of Irene's brothers had turned on the hot water.
"It was horrible, but the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful daughter that makes me extremely proud," said Van Niekerk.
For the past eight years Irene has been living with her mother, father, Hugo, and seven brothers in the Coronation Park Caravan Park in Krugersdorp.
She exercises at least twice a day, but only when her homework's done.
Irene is coached by her mother and according to Irene she is very strict with her practices.
"I think she got her sporting talent from me," said Van Niekerk, but her husband insists it is rather good genes that led to Irene's 1500 m time she recently ran in 4:45. The world record for girls under 15 is 4:00.
According to van Niekerk her daughter simply doesn't get tired.
"She cant run shorter distances, but once she gets going, she can run and run and run."
The shy, modest Irene said her role model is the "man with the no legs" and her biggest dream is to represent South Africa at the Olympics one day.
She is also deaf in her right ear and her chest was injured when she had been bitten by a dog as a child. But it did not hold her back.
"I wanted to run from childhood. It is what I enjoy doing and I don't get tired.
"The kids at school call me tiny Zola Budd."
STORIE IN AFRIKAANS
Deur: Lourensa Eckatd Beels Joernalis
Vandag is sy ’n belowende jong atleet met sowat 32 goue medaljes wat sy op skool- en provinsiale byeenkomste gewen het.
Dít alles doen sy kaalvoet en sonder die meeste van haar tone.
“Ek het van kleins af vir haar gesê sy kan nie dat haar voete haar terughou nie. Sy moet ’n sukses van die lewe maak, ongeag haar gestremdheid,” het haar ma, ook Irene, gister gesê.
’n Oppasser het haar dogter as ’n baba in ’n bad vol kookwater gesit. Die oppasser het nie gesien hoe een van Irene se boeties die warmwaterkraan oopdraai nie.
“Dit was baie erg, maar die Here het my geseën met ’n wonderlike dogter wat my ontsettend trots maak,” sê Van Niekerk.
Irene woon die afgelope agt jaar saam met haar ma, pa, Hugo, en sewe boeties in die Kroningspark-woonwapark in Krugersdorp.
Sy oefen minstens twee keer per dag, maar eers as haar huiswerk klaar is.
Irene word deur haar ma afgerig en volgens Irene is dié baie streng met haar.
“Ek dink sy het haar sporttalent by my gekry,” sê Van Niekerk, maar haar man hou vol dit is eerder sy goeie gene wat daartoe gelei het dat Irene die 1 500 m onlangs in ’n tyd van 4:45 gehardloop het. Die wêreldrekord vir meisies onder 15 is 4:00.
Volgens Van Niekerk word haar dogter eenvoudig nie moeg nie.
“Sy kan nie korter afstande hardloop nie, maar sodra sy aan die gang is, kan sy hardloop en hardloop en hardloop.”
Die skaam, beskeie Irene het gesê haar rolmodel is die “man met die af bene” en haar grootste droom is om Suid-Afrika eendag op die Olimpiese Spele te verteenwoordig.
Sy is ook doof in haar regteroor en haar borsbeen is beskadig toe sy as kind deur ’n hond gebyt is. Maar ook dit het haar nie teruggehou nie.
“Ek wou van kleins af hardloop. Dit is vir my lekker en ek word nie sommer moeg nie.
“Die kinders by die skool noem my klein Zola Budd.”
http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Basta-met-terugslae-se-die-atleet-20130424
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=qbYNnBegrQw&feature=endscreen
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