From Kazan Bronze to Gwangju Gold

Justine PalframanGWANGJU – If you don’t succeed at first, they say, try and try again! And that is exactly what South African sprinter Justine Palframan did in Gwangju 2015, storming her way to the gold medal in the womens’s 400m event.

Just two years ago the talented athlete did not make it past the first round of the very same event in Kazan, although she managed to secure silverware in the relay event with her peers as they claimed third in the 4x400m relay.

Yet her drive, determination and hard work, Palframan buried any demons of the past with a personal best time in the 400m Final this time around, much to her delight.

“It is an amazing feeling to come here and win a gold medal,” she says. “Kazan gave me the experience I needed to grow as an athlete.”

The 21-year-old feels her selection to her second World Student Games is a sign of her ongoing improvement.

“Everybody strives to be consistent and then raise their standard,” the talented athlete states. “By being selected for my second Universiade it is confirmation for me that I am steadily progressing. So this makes me very happy.”

The third-year BSC Sport Science student has no time to rest however, as she sets her sights even higher on her upcoming competitions in future.

“I am now going to continue with my preparations for the World Senior Championships in Beijing in just over a month from now,” she says. “I have qualified for both the 200m and the 400m. Beyond that I look forward to securing a spot on the national team for the Olympic Games in Rio, while I also have the All African games later on this year.”

Palframan says she enjoyed her time amongst the friendly citizens of Gwangju following her successful Universiade.

“The facilities were great and of high standard,” she says. “Korean people are friendly and helpful and did their best to ensure we enjoyed the experience.”

Fabio De Dominici (RSA), U-Media Reporter