South Africa’s Ernst van Dyk has claimed the gold medal in the Men’s H5 Road Race at the Rio Paralympics today.
An exhausted but overwhelmed Ernst van Dyk takes a moment to realise his Gold medal win in the Men’s H5 Road Race at the 2016 Rio Paralympics today. Photo: Supplied
In doing so, he beat his arch rival, Italian Alessandro Zanardi into second place in a time of 1:37:49.
Jetze Plat of the Netherlands finished third.
“To take a medal at an event that only comes around every four years remains a phenomenal achievement,” said Van Dyk.
“What a breakthrough. I am so thrilled. I would’ve loved any medal today but Gold is just phenomenal,” said Cycling South Africa’s Para-cycling Commission Director Dr. Mike Burns.
Burns described the fierce competition that Van Dyk had faced out on the road today.
“The guys he was up against were the best in the world. I am so excited,” he said.
This is Van Dyk’s seventh Paralympic Games, and he now adds to his tally of six Paralympic medals over the years.
The multiple Paralympian had made the break away before a sharp 180 degree turn towards the finish line.
