Simone Kruger — ZA-LA28
Athletes Simone Kruger
F43 — Shotput and Discus

Simone
Kruger

South Africa — Born 14 January 2005
World Record Holder — Discus African Record Holder — Shotput LA 2028 Qualifier Paris 2024 Paralympian Age 20 — U23
"For as long as you work and keep trying, you will never be a failure."
Simoné Kruger
2
Paralympics attended
3
World Championships
38.82m
Best discus — World Record
12.37m
Best shotput — African Record
2016
First competition — age 11
Her story

Resilience.
Transformation.
Excellence.

Simoné Kruger was born on 14 January 2005 in Pretoria, South Africa. During pregnancy, she suffered a stroke which caused paralysis on the right side of her body. The stroke damaged the left frontal area of her brain, meaning the muscles on her right side no longer received signals.

Through years of intensive rehabilitation, she had to retrain her body to move, rebuild coordination, and develop strength from scratch. Despite the challenges, she showed remarkable athletic ability from an early age and through relentless dedication, that ability grew into a world-class athletic career.

Simoné was discovered at a local school competition. With guidance from coaches and mentors, she began competing officially in October 2016 at just 11 years old. From there, para athletics became her purpose — transforming limitation into power and showing others that perseverance and belief can turn struggle into success.

Classification
F43 (previously F37, then F38)
Disability
Hemiplegia — Cerebral Palsy group
Club
Maties Para Sport
Category
U23 — competing in Senior Women's
First competition
October 2016 — Germiston, age 11
Nationality
South African
Simone Kruger competing Simone Kruger in action
Records
World Record
Discus — F43
38.82m
African Record
Shotput — F43
12.37m
Awards and honours

Four years of recognition

2025 and 2024
2025
SA Sports AwardsYouth/Junior Sport Star of the Year — Winner
SA Sports AwardsSportswoman of the Year with a Disability — Winner
Region 5 RASA AwardsSportswoman of the Year with a Disability — Winner
ASA AwardsSportswoman of the Year with a Disability — Winner
Gsport4Girls AwardsDisabled Sportswoman of the Year — Finalist
Maties Sportwomen with a DisabilityAward recipient
2024
SA Sports AwardsSportswoman of the Year with a Disability — Winner
SA Sports AwardsSport Star of the Year — Finalist
Region 5 RASA AwardsSportswoman of the Year with a Disability — Winner
ASA AwardsSportswoman of the Year with a Disability — Winner
Gsport4Girls AwardsDisabled Sportswoman of the Year — Finalist
2023, 2021 and 2019
2023
TWISA AwardsSportswoman of the Year with a Disability — Winner and Finalist
2021
Gauteng Sports AwardsMost Promising Athlete of the Year — Winner
TWISA AwardsSportswoman of the Year with a Disability — Winner and Finalist
2019
SA Sports AwardsSportswoman of the Year with a Disability — Finalist
Competition history
Started training for Shotput in 2013 and Discus in 2015.
Highest team: Shotput — Junior SA Team, Discus — SA Senior Team.
Paralympics attended: Discus — 2, Shotput — 0.
World Championships: Discus — 3, Shotput — 0.
Major international competitions: Shotput — 5, Discus — 5.
Provincial team representations: Shotput — 8, Discus — 8.
In action

Photo gallery

Simone competing
Simone in action
Simone throwing discus
Simone with medal
Simone competing
Beyond para sport

Competing in able-bodied sport

Beyond para athletics, Simone has competed in able-bodied athletics and hockey since primary school. She proudly represented Gauteng North from 2015 to 2019, achieving Provincial Colours and multiple school awards.

Highest team representedGauteng North (2015 to 2019) — Provincial Colours
SchoolHoerskool Garsfontein
School honoursVictrix Laudorum — multiple years
Best discus athleteBest Girls Discus Athlete of the Year — multiple years
School achievements

Awards and recognition

Top 10 and Top 15 teams — consistent school-level recognition
Gauteng Championships medals — Discus and Shot Put
Interhigh medals — Discus and Shot Put
Maties Sportwomen with a Disability — 2022/2023/2024
Gauteng Women in Sport — Athlete with a Disability — 2022/2023/2024
Her vision
To continue representing South Africa internationally, to defend her Paralympic title in 2028, and to inspire young athletes — especially girls with disabilities — to believe that their potential is limitless.
Support Simone

Help her get to
LA 2028

Simone has earned her place. A World Record holder at 20 years old, she has proved what is possible. Now she needs South Africa behind her for the biggest stage of her career.

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