Johanna Benson

**Johanna Benson** (dem born am 17 February 1990) be Paralympian athlete from Walvis Bay, Namibia. She dey compete insyd T37 long jump den sprint events wey for de 2012 Summer Paralympics insyd London she win de women's 200 metres race insyd ein classification. Ein 200 metres success insyd London made am de first Paralympic gold medalist insyd Namibia ein history.

## Ein Personal history
Dem born Benson insyd Walvis Bay, South West Africa (wey now be Namibia) insyd 1990. At de age of five months, dem notice say ein left side of ein body no dey develop as dem expect wey na she get cerebral palsy. Dem educate am locally insyd Walvis Bay, wey she attend de public primary den secondary schools.

## Ein Athletics career
Benson dey cam from sporting family, na ein mummy be athlete before am, wey ein uncle play give Namibia national football team. From ein kiddie tyms, na she dey enjoy running wey dem spot ein talent as she dey attend Kuisebmond Secondary School.

Classified as T37 competitor, for athletes wey get cerebral palsy, Benson ein first big international event cam for 2010 as she represent ein country for Commonwealth Games for Delhi. For Delhi insyd, she enter de Women's 100 metres (T37), wey ein time 14.81 make she finish third take grab bronze medal. De next year she travel go Christchurch for New Zealand go compete for de 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships, but she no fit find de same form like India, wey she no qualify enter de finals for both de 100 den 200 metre sprint.

Benson ein biggest shine come 2012 Summer Paralympics for London. She be de only female athlete from Namibia, 22 years old dat tym. She win gold medal for Women's 200m T37 race, beat Oksana Krechunyak from Ukraine. Later for the Games, she still win silver for Women's 100m T37. As she go back to Namibia, Government of Namibia dash am N$170,000 cash, one house for Walvis Bay, plus diplomatic passport. She still get chao money from private menners, institutions den organisations. One agency from ein hometown even promise am free training den physiotherapy for de next four years. Benson ein London success make she turn de first athlete from Namibia wey win Paralympic gold medal, den de first Namibian wey win gold for both Olympic anaa Paralympic Games. Before am, na Frankie Fredericks from Namibia wey only win silver medals for 1992 den 1996.

Benson follow ein Paralympic success plus medals for World Championship level. For de 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships for Lyon insyd, she grab two bronze medals for de 100 den 200 metre race insyd. One year later, she cam compete for de 2014 Commonwealth Games for Glasgow. Even though na ein sprint events no dey insyd de programme again, dem introduce de T37/38 long jump. For de long jump Benson manage do personal best distance of 3.82 metres take grab bronze medal, de only big international medal wey ein fit win for dis event.

As dem dey prepare for de 2016 Summer Paralympics for Rio de Janeiro, Benson take part insyd two international competition sana. For the 2015 African Games for Brazzaville, she win gold for the T37, 100 metre sprint, even though the field no strong. She sana collect third World Championship medal by winning bronze for the 2015 Championships insyd Doha for de 200 metres (T37). For Rio, Benson get de honour make she be ein country ein flag bearer for de opening ceremony tym. Since Benson ein best event, de 200 metres, wey dem commot from de schedule, she enter de 100 metre den 400 metre sprint, den de long jump. Even though she qualify enter de finals for both race, she finish last side for both. Ein tym of 14.16 for de 100 metre sprint saf fast pass de silver medal tym she do for London, but de field level cam chao strong for de past four years so Benson end am for seventh place.

## References


## External links

* Johanna Benson at de International Paralympic Committee
* Johanna Benson at IPC.InfostradaSports.com (archived)