Injured: 18 August 1984, aged 15 while playing prop for his school Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. After a long period of rehabilitation, Wentzel returned to Paul Roos to complete his matric in a self-propelling manual wheelchair, refusing to let his injury stand in the way of his education or ambitions. His drive saw him move on to Stellenbosch University, where he completed both a BComm and a Master’s degree.
Over the years, Wentzel has served in several departments at the University—including Commercial, Security, Finance, and Athletics. He is now the Sports Manager at Maties, managing ParaSport as well as the clubs for persons with disabilities which include student and non-student clubs. In 2006, he played a key role in establishing the Maties Sports for Disabled Club, a pioneering initiative that opened doors for student athletes with disabilities to access proper equipment and facilities.
Wentzel’s personal sporting achievements are equally impressive. Post-injury, he earned provincial colours in swimming, wheelchair rugby, and hand cycling (both track and road). He went on to represent South Africa at multiple international wheelchair rugby championships—an experience he describes as one of the highlights of his sporting career. Although his competitive days are behind him, Wentzel remains active, regularly taking part in fun runs in his wheelchair and keeping fit through daily exercise.
Beyond sport, Wentzel enjoys life to the fullest. He loves road trips, flyfishing, and watching sport from the sidelines. Remarkably, he drives his own adapted vehicle and transfers independently from his wheelchair—an incredible accomplishment for a quadriplegic.
