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.”
Jo-Ane van Dyk is happy with that effort 😁
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) August 7, 2024
She leads the way in the Women's Javelin Throw Qualification Group A right now 🔝
📺 Stream #Paris2024 live: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw#CloserToYourChampions pic.twitter.com/WBfa0whC4A
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.”
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