GEORGE NEWS - Gerrit Hendricks has been an inspiration to an entire generation of disabled athletes here on the Garden Route, participating in every Outeniqua Cycle Challenge since 2006.

He did not finish that year, but this only encouraged him to work harder. Since then he has finished on the podium every year, apart from 2017 when he had to withdraw from the race due to mechanical problems.

Starting out riding one of Ernst van Dyk's old cycles, he later upgraded his equipment with the help of sponsors. This allowed him to significantly improve his times.

His focus these days is on track racing, but he is looking forward to competing in the OCC again in the T54 category. Hendricks says that, for disabled athletes, the OCC is the highlight of the year.

"I have a love-hate relationship with the OCC. I won a few half marathons in the event, but the other times there were some glitches during the race. It becomes a very psychological thing and your mind starts telling you about all the things that can go wrong," he told the George Herald in 2017.

Track has a very different training regime to road racing and Hendricks is still unsure whether he will be attempting the full marathon.

Hendricks has competed in New York, London, Switzerland, and Portugal with mixed success. The highlight of his career was being selected to represent South Africa at the Africa Games in Brazzaville in 2015. Since then injuries have hampered his participation in major events. Hendricks lost the use of his lower body after a car accident when he was nine. At school he represented SWD at chess, something he enjoys to this day. He graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2000. Today he lives in Oudtshoorn and works as a passenger information agent for Acsa at the George Airport.

Gerrit Hendricks.

Outeniqua Cycle Challenge
The 17th OCC, a wheelchair race exclusively for disabled athletes, which attracts athletes from all over the world, will take place in George on Saturday 14 September.

The 2019 OCC will take place thanks to the support of the George Municipality, George Business Chamber, Lancewood and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. Halfway Toyota is the venue host.