In unbelievable news that can only be described as the worst nightmare Burry Stander was killed in a road accident on Thursday 3 January 2013 in Shelly Beach Kwa-Zulu Natal.
At 25 years old he was one of the best mountain bikers in the world, and he was just getting started. However it is not his success, ability and potential that make is loss so tragic but rather his humility, the fact that he was just one of us. He readily accepted the challenge of being a pioneer and carrying the hopes of a whole nation and being a role model. He was incredibly mature is this sense. He proved to all of us that we can be the best in the world, that we have what it takes. He proved that you can be a South African, live in South Africa and be a world champion. You don't need an attitude and don't need to be "based" in Europe. The irony of course is that he was killed in South Africa in his home town by a motor vehicle.
I had only met Burry a few times but regarded him as a friend, everyone who followed or knew him felt that way because that's the type of guy that he was. The emotion that has surfaced by everyone following his death is testament the quality of his character. The loss of any life is tragic, especially a cyclist hit by a car and especially Burry Stander. Burry a was not only a person, son, brother, husband and cyclist, he was a hero who touched and inspired so many people that his loss is enormous because it is profoundly felt by thousands of people together with his family and friends.
That inspiration that he provided can live on in many ways by those who felt it. Most significantly it should serve as a grim reminder of how unsafe our roads are and hopefully be a catalyst and inspiration to bring action to make our roads safer. Personally I will carry his memory and use it as strength when I ride, when I feel the pedal stroke pain and think that I can't anymore I'll remind myself that Burry would do anything to feel that pain because that is what he lived for.
Check out the Burry's Bicycles facebook page for ongoing action to make cycling safer.
Checkout the iol news story that sums ups this tragic event.
