Para-sprinter Irmgard Bensusan has said an emotional goodbye to the big stage. After the games in Paris, where she won bronze in the 200 meters, she is returning to her home country of South Africa and ending her career. “I can’t cry yet, otherwise I won’t stop,” she said after her last race, in which she came eighth in the 100 meters. “It was very nice, I sat there for a long time and waited for Johannes.”
Her former teammate at Bayer Leverkusen, Johannes Floors, was next in line and was greeted with a hug by Bensusan. “I wanted to sit there because I really wanted to soak it all in one last time. I wanted to lock everything in my heart, save it and tell myself that that was it.”
“No matter where she goes, it will be a good vacation spot.”
Floors, who affectionately calls the 33-year-old “Aunt Irmi,” will miss Bensusan. “She had her last dance today. Both my silver medal and her performance – it’s all being celebrated. We both moved to Leverkusen at the same time. I’m taking a lot with me and she will be missed in our training group. But no matter where she moves to, it will be a good vacation spot.”
During her career, Bensusan won five Paralympic silver medals and four world championship titles. Her big dream was to qualify for the Olympic Games. But after falling over a hurdle, she was diagnosed with incurable nerve damage in her right lower leg. Since the accident, she has been running with an orthosis.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240907-930-225655/1
This is a message directly from the dpa news channel.
