'Good luck Jo-Ane,' says wife of man SA javelin thrower once speared by accident

07 August 2024 - 13:56 By David Isaacson in Paris
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Jo-Ane van Dyk of South Africa in action in the Paris 2024 Olympics women's javelin throw qualification group A at Stade de France on Wednesday.
Jo-Ane van Dyk of South Africa in action in the Paris 2024 Olympics women's javelin throw qualification group A at Stade de France on Wednesday.
Image: Reuters/Dylan Martinez

Jo-Ane van Dyk received good luck wishes before the Paris Olympics from people she met by accident in Germany — when she speared the husband with a javelin in 2021.

Van Dyk, who on Wednesday qualified for Saturday’s women’s javelin final at Stade de France, met up with them at the scene of the incident in Halle, Germany, earlier this year, meeting the daughter they named after her. The only difference is they pronounce the name with a J and not a Y.

“So I met her and the father, the guy — he’s actually very nice. He’s not angry at me at all so I’m just happy he’s not angry.

“And she’s a very cute little girl.”

The Olympic opening ceremony on July 26 coincided with little Jo-Ane’s second birthday.

Van Dyk also saw the scar at the top of his chest, under the shoulder, where the javelin struck. “It’s still there,” she said, adding it punctured the lung.

“He was hospitalised.”

Spectators were standing close to the field of the javelin-only competition and she threw the missile slightly off-course and the wind helped to deviate it further.

“He wasn’t watching,” she added. “But he’s strong and striving.”

All the latest Paris Games coverage on TimesLIVE’s Olympics 2024 page.

All the Team SA results here.


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