Mpumelelo Mhlongo wins first gold for SA at World Para Athletics Championships
The T44 world record holder claimed the World Champion title in the 100m on Wednesday in a time of 11.46.
Mpumelelo Mhlongo won South Africa's first gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships at the Charlety Stadium in Paris on 13 July 2023. Picture: Andries Kruger
JOHANNESBURG - Mpumelelo Mhlongo won South Africa's first gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships at the Charlety Stadium in Paris.
The T44 world record holder claimed the title in the 100 metre on Wednesday evening in a time of 11.46.
"This win just reminds me of the privilege some of us get to experience through representing our country on a global stage for a short time in our lives.
"I can only hope that this win adds to the testament that our country is full of talent ready to take on the world, we only need more ways to support, nurture and shine a light on that talent, " said Mhlongo to Eyewitness News.
T44 is a disability sport classification for disability athletics, applying to single below-knee amputation or an athlete who can walk with moderately reduced function in one or both legs.
Mhlongo was born with amniotic band syndrome, which resulted in a clubfoot and his right leg being shorter than his left.
The athlete is a multiple world championship medalist, a South African sprint and long jump athlete, and Paralympic Games record holder. He won silver and bronze at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in the T44 men's 100 metres and long jump events.
On Monday, Paralympic medallist Louzanne Coetzee won South Africa’s first medal in the women’s 1,500m T11 in a time of 4:48.13.
The World Para Athletics Championships is the second most important sporting event in the disabled sports calendar after the Paralympic Games and are held every two years.