Chase your dreams, says Sheryl

Date: 17 October 2025 By: Andries van Zyl

Louis Trichardt Paralympian Sheryl James returned to the beautiful Soutpansberg from the 2025 World Para-Athletics Championships in New Delhi last week, boasting another world-class performance.

Sheryl was part of the five-member South African Para-athletics team that competed in the event, who ended up winning four medals for their country. Puseletso Mabote won gold in the men’s 100m for T63 athletes (track athletes with a single above-knee amputation or a comparable impairment who compete using a prosthetic leg), while Simoné Kruger claimed gold in the women’s discus for F38 athletes (field athletes with coordination impairments). Sheryl ran her way to a bronze medal in the women’s 400m T37 class (track athletes with coordination impairment), while a bronze medal also went to Collen Mahlalela, who came third in the men’s 400m for T47 athletes (track athletes with upper limb impairments).

“Personally, the World Champs were something I committed to doing before the Paris Paralympics, and thankfully, the Lord opened the doors for me to get there. It is always an honour to represent my country, and an even greater blessing when my Jesus is on the path with me,” said Sheryl in an interview with the Zoutpansberger.

Although the South African team was small, they were determined to do well. “And do well we did, boasting two gold medals from our young stars and two bronze from our more senior athletes. We all achieved season’s bests, despite having limited opportunities for competitive preparation ahead of the World Champs,” said Sheryl.

Humble by nature, Sheryl once again expressed her thanks to all who had contributed to her and the team’s success. “Thank you to the technical staff who helped us navigate the conditions, endure the long hours on the bus to and from venues, and to everyone who provided financial support to make the trip possible. Even more importantly, thank you for the encouragement and support in every form from those back home during the preparation phase,” said Sheryl.

Being back in South Africa, however, there will be little time to relax. “I will have to rest a bit for now and not sprint for a few weeks,” she said.

But then the hard work begins again, said this local sporting role model, who trained herself to get ready for the World Champs in India. “It is much harder. Maybe I would have done better if there was somebody pushing me, but it is what it is. It was a really good experience. For me, it was just seeing the Lord in the process – in the small things,” said Sheryl.

Sheryl’s focus now is on getting ready for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in July/August next year in Glasgow, Scotland. “So we must now qualify before the end of March 2026. Hopefully, Masala Makatu, another young athlete from here, and I can both qualify,” said Sheryl.

Masala is an 18-year-old South African para-athlete from Makhitha village in the Kutama area of Vhembe, Limpopo. Competing in the T12 classification for athletes with visual impairments, Makatu has rapidly emerged as a promising talent in track and field. In July, he and Sheryl attended a GAPS Commonwealth Training Programme at the High Performance Centre of the University of Stellenbosch. The GAPS Commonwealth Sport Programme aims to support the development of inclusive sport pathways and, according to its mission statement, the development of coaches is fundamental, but so is tackling the many barriers and constraints that prevent participation.

Apart from getting ready for the Commonwealth Games, Sheryl’s planning stretches even further ahead. “I’ll be 40 when I go to the Commonwealth Games. I have committed to the next eight years, to the next two Paralympics, but not necessarily as an athlete. I definitely still qualify as an athlete for the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028. But I really want to try and rally some athletes from here and take them there. There is a lot of talent. We just need to go and find it,” said Sheryl.

But finding talent is only half the battle. Getting the athletes ready and taking them there is another. “If Masala and I can succeed at the Commonwealth Games, it will help everyone else. It will get people to want to invest,” said Sheryl.

Sheryl’s dream?

“It is my deep desire that the youth of South Africa will be inspired and encouraged to chase after their dreams relentlessly, working with perseverance to reap the rewards. Yes, my passion is sport — but that is only a single facet of our lives. Still, it remains a powerful tool to develop good character and, for those of us who dare to believe, an opportunity that can take us all over the world,” said Sheryl.

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Andries van Zyl

Andries joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in April 1993 as a darkroom assistant. Within a couple of months he moved over to the production side of the newspaper and eventually doubled as a reporter. In 1995 he left the newspaper group and travelled overseas for a couple of months. In 1996, Andries rejoined the Zoutpansberger as a reporter. In August 2002, he was appointed as News Editor of the Zoutpansberger, a position he holds until today.