Mhlongo wins SA's 1st gold medal at Para Athletics World Champs

JOHANNESBURG - Mpumelelo Mhlongo won South Africa's first gold medal at the Para Athletics World Championships on Monday, making it three medals for Team SA so far.

The 30-year-old dominated the T44 men's 100m race, coming first in a time of 11.34. The silver medal was taken by Malaysia's Eddy Bernard (11.77) and Sri Lanka's Indika Gamage took the bronze in 11.83.

At the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships at the Charlety Stadium in Paris, Mhlongo also won SA's first gold medal in the T44 Men's 100m, in a time of 11.46.

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 Sunday, Louzanne Coetzee won a bronze medal in the Women’s 1,500m T11 final and on Friday, Liezel Gouws won a bronze in the women's 400m T37.

Louzanne Coetzee wins a bronze medal at the Para Athletics World Championships

Newcomer Collen Mahlalela makes SA's Para Athletics World Championships

Liezel Gouws wins SA's 1st medal at Para Athletics World Championships