RUBEN Soroseb is one of Namibia’s most experienced and decorated disabled athletes and will this year compete at his third Paralympic Games in Rio.
Since breaking onto the weightlifting scene at the South African Championships for the Disabled in 2002, he has gone on to dominate his category. To date he has won more than ten gold medals at the SA Championships while he regularly broke Namibian and South African records over the years.
He also qualified attended the 2004 and 2012 Paralympic Games and now at the age of 36, he is gearing up for his third Paralympics in Rio.
Soroseb was born and raised in Omaruru and developed Polio as a baby. Although he enjoyed and followed sport, it was only after school that he took it up.
“I had polio when I was a baby so I grew up like that. One of my legs is short so I’m wearing a brace on my leg which helps me to walk. In school I couldn’t do much sport people with disabilities couldn’t do sport at school the time, so I only started doing sport after school, ” he said.
After completing his matric in 1998 he went to Walvis Bay to stay with his niece and later joined the Sunshine Centre, an organisation that assists young people with physical and mental disabilities.
“I did some woodwork and welding and so on, and then later started doing sport I started doing a bit of discus, shot put and javelin. One day there was an athletics event in Walvis Bay and I heard on the radio that people with disabilities were also going to participate. So I also went and that’s where it started I made some new friends who invited me to come and train with them. ”
In 2001 Soroseb met Willie Venter, a gym owner, who introduced him to weightlifting and after taking up his newfound sport with determination and commitment, he went to compete at the SA Championships for the first time in 2002.
Competing in the 82kg category, Soroseb made an immediate impression, winning the bronze medal with a weight of 110kg, and Soroseb had found his passion in life.
“It inspired me a lot and I was also inspired to see a lot of other disabled people, who were even more disabled than me, so I thought if they can do it, why can’t I. ”
The next year Soroseb won his first gold medal at the SA Championships, setting a dominant trend that would continue for more than a decade, while he also qualified for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens.
“The competition was a new experience for me and I did not perform too well and finished 14th out of 17 competitors. But it was a great experience and I was determined to compete internationally again, ” he said.
The following year he moved up to the 90kg category and set a new record of 140kg at the SA Championships, and in the ensuing years he constantly broke new ground as he improved his record to 175kg by 2009. He also qualified for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India, where he came sixth with a new record of 190kg.
In 2011 Soroseb moved up to the 100kg category, and broke the 200kg barrier for the first time at the SA Championships, to qualify for the London Paralympic Games.
Soroseb however injured his shoulder during training and wasn’t at his best in London, although he managed to lift 200kg to finish ninth overall.
In 2013 he set a new record of 210kg at the SA Championships, and in 2014 came fourth at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a weight of 205kg.
Injuries however disrupted his training and performances since then and after finishing fifth at the All Africa Games last year with a weight of 200kg, he had to miss this year’s SA Championships due to an injury to his back.
“It disrupted my training, but now it feels much better again and Im training well now. I went to see a doctor who advised me to do much more stretching exercises, so I’ve been doing that and now it’s much better. ”
Regarding his preparations for the Rio Paralympic Games, Soroseb said he needed more assistance from the Namibia Paralympic Committee to be at his peak.
“Preparing for Rio is a bit difficult. I train on my own and its not easy. If they can send me someone who can assist me that would help a lot. I also need some supplements, I need to eat right, and all of this costs money. If there is no money it won’t help, ” he said.
One on one with Ruben Soroseb
When and where were you born?
In Omaruru on 1 October 1979.
Where did you go to school?
SI Gobs Primary and Secondary School in Omaruru.
Did you have any sporting heroes as a youngster?
What do you like to eat and drink?
I like chicken and vegetables and a lot of eggs. I like to drink juice or water.
What was the most memorable moment in your sporting career?
