Despite 2 gold medals, Mahlalela has mixed emotions about his SASAPD national champ's performance
Eyewitness News caught up with Collen Mahlalela, who won 2 gold medals one in the 400m and another in the long jump, while also breaking the African record in the 400m.
- South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD)
- Paralympic Games
- Collen Mahlalela
South African para-athlete Collen Mahlalela. Picture: SASAPD (South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled)/ Andries Kruger.
JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s para-athletes were in the Free State to compete at the Toyota South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD) National Championships in Bloemfontein from 21 to 25 March.
Eyewitness News caught up with Collen Mahlalela, who won two gold medals - one in the 400m and another in the long jump, while also breaking the African record in the 400m.
"I could say I had a good performance even though I was not happy with it because I did not run the time I desired in the 400m race. I wanted to dip into 49s but I got 51.09s. The minimum high performance for Paralympics in Paris is 50.28s that was my goal."
READ: Mahlalela aiming to seal qualification for Paralympics at SASAPD Champs
According to the organisers, this year a total of 111 national records were set at the Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Para athletics and Para swimming and seven African records were broken and two equalled, while Puseletso Mabote set a new world record in the men’s 200m T63.
Mahlalela, who is sponsored by Bambanani Mlambo Trust (BMT) from Komartiport, says he still has hope he will have a good season and achieve his goals.
"If I can be selected as part of Team SA and compete at the Grand Prix in Kobe, Japan and the Paralympics in Paris, I would give it my all. My wish is to win a gold medal at all my competitions."
The World Para Athletics competition calendar for the 2024 season includes seven Grand Prix and the World Championships in Kobe, Japan.
The 28-year-old from the village of Mthatha in Enkomazi, Mpumalanga recently competed at the Dubai 2024 World Para Athletics Grand Prix.
Mahlalela won silver in the men’s 400m and bronze in the men’s long jump T47 in Dubai.
"One of the most cherishable highlights was participating in the World Para-Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai and receiving a silver and bronze medal, through which I also got my international classification, which has been long outstanding."
