Sheryl James (athlete)

Sheryl James (born 11 February 1986) is a South African Paralympic athlete.[1] She competes in 100, 200 and 400 metres sprinting events. She is a bronze medalist at the World Para Athletics Championships and also at the Summer Paralympics.[2]

Sheryl James
Personal information
Born (1986-02-11) 11 February 1986 (age 40)
Pretoria, South Africa
Sport
CountrySouth Africa
SportPara-athletics
T37
Events

Early life

edit

Born in Pretoria, James was born with cerebral palsy and hemiplegia in the right side of her body due to a lack of oxygen at birth.[2]

Career

edit

James began competing at a competitive level in 2018 at the age of 32.[2]

At the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships, James won the bronze medal in the women's 400 metres.[3]

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics (held in 2021), James won the bronze medal in the T37 400m, beating her personal best in 1:03.82, behind China's Jiang Fenfen (1:01.36) and Ukraine's Natalia Kobzar (1:01.47). A few days later, she finished 5th in the T37 100m and 4th in the T37 100m.[4][5]

James competed at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships and won a bronze medal in the 400 metres event.[6]

References

edit
  1. "Sheryl James". Paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sheryl James". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  3. "Dubai 2019 Multi Medalists" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee. 6 February 2020.
  4. Palesa Manaleng (31 August 2021). "SA'S SHERYL JAMES WINS BRONZE IN THE WOMEN'S 400M T37 FINAL AT TOKYO GAMES". Eyewitness News.
  5. "SA bronze hero Sheryl James on Paralympic debut: 'There aren't any words to describe it'". News 24. 2 September 2021.
  6. "New Delhi 2025: Day two medallists". paralympic.org. 28 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
edit