It is an Olympic year! This means another chance to celebrate sport as an important factor in creating better understanding and inclusive change, while cheering for our South African role models.
An important stop, on the road to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, is the Kobe Para Athletics World Championships to be held from 17 to 25 May at the Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium, one of Japan’s leading multi-purpose stadiums.
This, the 11th edition of the event will host 1073 athletes from 104 nations including a 15-member strong South African squad, featuring five athletes who are important role-models for the beneficiaries of the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund (Jumping Kids).
The athletes are Sheryl James, Simoné Kruger, Puseletso Mabote, Paul Daniels and Mpumelelo Mhlongo.
Mhlongo, who won 100m gold in his division at last year’s Para Athletics World Championships, will be back in action in both the men’s 100m T44* and men’s T44/T64* long jump items in Kobe.
We asked our Jumping Kids Director, Michael Stevens, about the charity’s collaboration with Mpumelelo over the years and why is it significant.
Since when has Mpumelelo been involved with Jumping Kids?
“Mpumi has been around and involved with Jumping Kids for many years. We met him around 2015 when he was pursuing his Paralympic and athletic journey. We were supporting Ntando Mahlangu and other elite athletes at the time, so we connected through sport.
What makes him special?
“Mpumi is an incredible role model for our Jumping Kids beneficiaries to look up to. He is very open and available to meet kids and offer his perspectives and advice. His success in school, his career and sports achievements mean that he can share a variety of experiences and knowledge with them, whilst connecting on a social and cultural level.
He knows what it is like to be “different” and how to use it as a motivator. Jumping Kids is lucky to have him involved and we wish him all the best for great results at the Para Athletics World Championships in Japan,” Stevens concludes.
This year’s Paralympics will be Mhlongo’s final performance for South Africa on the global Para Athletics circuit.
He recently announced that he will be retiring from competitive sport after the Paris Games and aims to end his athletics career on a high note by going for a 100m podium and defending his men’s T44 long jump record (7.07m) set at the 2019 Para Athletics World Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
*T44 – Track athlete with below knee disability competing without prosthetic equipment.
*T64 – Track athlete with a below knee disability competing with prosthetic equipment.
