The countdown to this year’s Cybathlon 2024 has begun for local supporters of the NWU Eagles Cybathlon team, who had an enthusiastic send-off on 18 October.
The Cybathlon is a prestigious event organised by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and takes place in Kloten, north of Zürich. It is a global platform focusing on innovation and assistive technologies and is an excellent benchmarking opportunity for the NWU to see how its innovations compare internationally.
The nine members of the interdisciplinary NWU Eagles Cybathlon team, who leave for Switzerland on Monday, 21 October, were given a rousing send-off at an event held at the Faculty of Engineering on the Potchefstroom Campus. There to cheer them on were supporters from the faculties of Engineering and of Health Sciences, as well as Marketing and Student Recruitment, among others.
The competition in Zürich is for athletes who use wheelchairs or have prosthetic limbs and takes the form of an obstacle course. The NWU team delighted their well-wishers at the Potchefstroom event by giving a demonstration of what the obstacle course will entail.
Led by researchers Ian Thomson and Prof André Grobler from the Faculty of Engineering and Dr Mark Kramer from the Faculty of Health Sciences, the team will compete in the international competition with a state-of-the-art prosthetic leg and wheelchair.
Ian, who is also the team pilot, thanked everyone who supported them and helped make the dream of participating in the Cybathlon 2024 come true. He said they are grateful for everyone’s contributions.
“There was a massive amount of work going on behind the scenes. Every time you take a small step and achieve something, it snowballs and results in a great outcome. We appreciate all the support we received; it means a lot.”
Well wishes as team takes innovations to the international stage
“You are embarking on a journey of which the Cybathlon is part of. My wish for you is that you will look back as a team and as individuals and realise that these few days of the event are also part of your personal journey,” says Prof Liezl van Dyk, executive dean of the Faculty of Engineering.
Jean Stidworthy, director of Marketing and Recruitment, says events like these provide exposure for the excellent research and innovation that will have an impact not only for the university but also in communities.
Prof Alida Herbst on behalf of the Faculty of Health Sciences extended best wishes to the team whose dedication and innovation have already made the NWU proud.
“The competition is not about winning, but about showcasing the remarkable synergy between human resilience and technological advancement,” she said. “It is testament to how interdisciplinary collaboration can lead to groundbreaking innovation that can advance quality of life. We are confident that you will represent the NWU with honour and distinction.” For more information, visit: https://engineering.nwu.ac.za/engineering/nwu-eagles-cybathlon-team or https://news.nwu.ac.za/engineers-track-take-local-innovations-cybathlon-switzerland
Eagi looks on as Ian Thomson demonstrates what part of the obstacle course will entail.
The NWU Eagles Cybathlon team is off to an enthusiastic start. From left are Ian Thomson, JP van Deventer, Jan-Hendrick Kruger, Bianca Thomson, Eagi, Kelebogile Oompie, Prof André Grobler, Henry van Niekerk, Dr Mark Kramer and Kangwa Nkonde. Mientjie Botha could not attend the event.
