Sandra James
Encyclopedia
Sandra James is a Zimbabwe
an former athlete, who won eleven medals across four different sports at the Paralympic Games
.
, competing in athletics and swimming.
In athletics, she entered the discus, javelin and shotput events, in the 1A category. In the discus, she took bronze with a throw of 6.00m, behind German and Argentinian competitors. In the javelin, her throw of 5.22m was well clear of any competition, enabling her to win the gold medal; J. Murland of Canada came second with 4.68m. In the shot put, Dutch athlete de Vries-Noordam dominated the field with a throw of 2.59, but James' result, 1.96m, was just enough for second place, ahead of Murland (1.91).
In swimming, she competed in three 25m races, also in the 1A category. In the backstroke, she finished sixth, a clear last, in 1:47.3, while Karen Donaldson of the USA set a world record in 39.8s. In the freestyle, she was the only competitor, and thus won gold simply by completing the race. Her time of 1:10.0 was, nonetheless, a world record. In the breaststroke, German swimmer Mayerhofer took a clear lead to win in 47s, but James' time of 1:13.3 was sufficient for silver, ahead of two other swimmers.
This was to be Rhodesia's last participation in the Paralympic Games. Shunned by much of the international community, the country was embroiled in the Rhodesian Bush War
by the time of the 1976 Games
, and did not take part. Rhodesia's successor state, Zimbabwe
, began to participate in the Paralympics immediately upon coming into being, and Sandra James returned to the Paralympics as part of Zimbabwe's delegation to the 1980 Games
.
In athletics, she swept up three silver medals, in the discus, shot put and club throw events (1A category). She achieved a throw of 13.72m in the club, behind Josefina Cornejo's world record result of 18.05m for Mexico. In the discus, her result of 7.26m again placed her second behind Cornejo (8.42m), while in the shot put, her throw of 2.72m won her a third silver, behind Cornejo's Paralympic record throw of 2.94m.
In lawn bowls, she took part in the pairs' event in the 1A-1B category, with team mate Eileen Robertson. The event consisted in a single encounter, against M. McLellan and Jane Blackburn of Great Britain. The British pair won the match, leaving the Zimbabweans with a silver medal.
In swimming, James competed in the same events as eight years previously. In the backstroke, she came fourth and last by far, her time of 1:43.46 well behind third-placed Eugenia Garcia of Argentina (56.76s), while Donaldson of the USA set a world record in 35.09s. In the freestyle, she likewise finished fourth and last, in 1:10.69. In the breaststroke, however, she was one of only two competitors. Completing the event in 1:10.75, behind Garcia (1:00.82), she took silver.
In table tennis, James and Robertson were one of three pairs competing in the 1B category. They were defeated 0:3 by Norwegian team Marit Lysen and A. Klausen in the semi-finals. In the other semi-final, Mexico were non-starters against Ireland, resulting in a walkover
. Norway defeated Ireland in the final, for gold; no bronze medal was awarded. James fared better in the singles, where she was one of three competitors in the 1A category. She lost 1:2 to J. Toomey of Ireland, but defeated Mexico's Josefina Cornejo 2:0, and won silver.
This was James' last participation in the Paralympic Games.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an former athlete, who won eleven medals across four different sports at the Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
.
1972: representing Rhodesia
James initially represented Rhodesia at the 1972 Summer ParalympicsRhodesia at the 1972 Summer Paralympics
Rhodesia competed at the 1972 Summer Paralympics in Heidelberg, West Germany. It was the last time the nation competed at the Paralympic Games before returning as Zimbabwe at the 1980 Summer Paralympics. The delegation consisted of 13 competitors in the sports of track and field athletics and...
, competing in athletics and swimming.
In athletics, she entered the discus, javelin and shotput events, in the 1A category. In the discus, she took bronze with a throw of 6.00m, behind German and Argentinian competitors. In the javelin, her throw of 5.22m was well clear of any competition, enabling her to win the gold medal; J. Murland of Canada came second with 4.68m. In the shot put, Dutch athlete de Vries-Noordam dominated the field with a throw of 2.59, but James' result, 1.96m, was just enough for second place, ahead of Murland (1.91).
In swimming, she competed in three 25m races, also in the 1A category. In the backstroke, she finished sixth, a clear last, in 1:47.3, while Karen Donaldson of the USA set a world record in 39.8s. In the freestyle, she was the only competitor, and thus won gold simply by completing the race. Her time of 1:10.0 was, nonetheless, a world record. In the breaststroke, German swimmer Mayerhofer took a clear lead to win in 47s, but James' time of 1:13.3 was sufficient for silver, ahead of two other swimmers.
This was to be Rhodesia's last participation in the Paralympic Games. Shunned by much of the international community, the country was embroiled in the Rhodesian Bush War
Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
by the time of the 1976 Games
1976 Summer Paralympics
The 1976 Summer Paralympics were the fifth Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in Toronto, in the province of Ontario, Canada from August 3 to 11, 1976...
, and did not take part. Rhodesia's successor state, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, began to participate in the Paralympics immediately upon coming into being, and Sandra James returned to the Paralympics as part of Zimbabwe's delegation to the 1980 Games
1980 Summer Paralympics
The 1980 Summer Paralympics were the sixth Paralympic Games. They were held in Papendal, close to the host city of Arnhem, Netherlands, from June 21 to 30, 1980.- Sports :...
.
1980: representing Zimbabwe
In 1980, James took part in athletics, swimming, lawn bowls and table tennis.In athletics, she swept up three silver medals, in the discus, shot put and club throw events (1A category). She achieved a throw of 13.72m in the club, behind Josefina Cornejo's world record result of 18.05m for Mexico. In the discus, her result of 7.26m again placed her second behind Cornejo (8.42m), while in the shot put, her throw of 2.72m won her a third silver, behind Cornejo's Paralympic record throw of 2.94m.
In lawn bowls, she took part in the pairs' event in the 1A-1B category, with team mate Eileen Robertson. The event consisted in a single encounter, against M. McLellan and Jane Blackburn of Great Britain. The British pair won the match, leaving the Zimbabweans with a silver medal.
In swimming, James competed in the same events as eight years previously. In the backstroke, she came fourth and last by far, her time of 1:43.46 well behind third-placed Eugenia Garcia of Argentina (56.76s), while Donaldson of the USA set a world record in 35.09s. In the freestyle, she likewise finished fourth and last, in 1:10.69. In the breaststroke, however, she was one of only two competitors. Completing the event in 1:10.75, behind Garcia (1:00.82), she took silver.
In table tennis, James and Robertson were one of three pairs competing in the 1B category. They were defeated 0:3 by Norwegian team Marit Lysen and A. Klausen in the semi-finals. In the other semi-final, Mexico were non-starters against Ireland, resulting in a walkover
Walkover
In British English, a walkover or W.O. is the awarding of a victory to a contestant because there are no other contestants, or because the other contestants have been disqualified or have forfeited. The term can apply in sport, but can also apply to elections...
. Norway defeated Ireland in the final, for gold; no bronze medal was awarded. James fared better in the singles, where she was one of three competitors in the 1A category. She lost 1:2 to J. Toomey of Ireland, but defeated Mexico's Josefina Cornejo 2:0, and won silver.
This was James' last participation in the Paralympic Games.