Seen by many as the inspiration behind the launch of the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund charity in South Africa; below-knee amputee Emile Burgers, who has an able-body twin brother, enjoys all kinds of sports including rugby, softball, cricket, golf, swimming, and athletics.

Emile was born with a right leg shorter than the left and no right foot. On recommendation of his paediatric team, his leg was amputated soon after birth and he was fitted with his first prosthesis at eight months by Icexpress Progressive Prosthetics’ Johan Snyders.

Following the positive impact access to modern prosthetics had on Emile’s early development years; a high-activity prosthesis, known as a running blade, was added to the mix to support the sports enthusiast’s dream to represent South Africa.

Emile started practicing track and field athletics and later joined the IsAbility Sports Club in Gauteng. He has represented his province and country in Para Athletics on national and international level. He currently holds the Senior Men’s Javelin F64 South African record.

In 2016, Emile won the Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) Junior Male Athlete of the Year award at the Gauteng School Sport Awards in South Africa. He is currently (2023) completing his Prosthetics & Orthotics studies at Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa.

HIGHLIGHTS since becoming a Jumping Kids ambassador…

• Gold for Gauteng Province in the Men’s Open Javelin throw final at the Bloemfontein 2024 Toyota SASAPD National Championships.
• Gold (50.05m) for Gauteng Province in the Men’s Open Javelin F44/62/64 final at the 2023 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Added fifty points with a 7^th place (25.23m) for Gauteng Province in the Men’s Open Discus F42/43/62/64 final at the 2023 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Silver (54.14) in the Javelin Men’s F62/63/64 final at the 2022 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Germiston, South Africa.
• Bronze (27.55) in the Discus Men’s F42/43/62-64 final at the 2022 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Germiston, South Africa.
• Gold and provisional South African record (51.13) in the Senior Men F64 Javelin for Gauteng at the 2021 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Gqeberha, South Africa.
• Won gold in the Men under-17 F45-64 Javelin, silver in Shot Put, and placed fourth in Discus for South Africa at the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland.
• Won gold in the Men T/F64 under-17 100m, Discus and Javelin items, with his distance in Javelin (45.60m) setting a new South African record, at the 2019 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
• Won gold (42.43m) in the mixed classification Javelin under-17 Men’s final, adding bronze in Shot Put and Discus for South Africa at the 2018 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Youth World Games.
• Nominated for the School Sport Star of the Year at the 2017 Gauteng Sport Awards in South Africa.
• Under-20 Men Javelin gold (34.78m) and under-18 Long Jump bronze (3.68m) for South Africa at the 2017 International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Games in Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal.
• Won Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) Junior Male Athlete of the Year at Gauteng School Sport Awards in 2016.
• Won 2016 Softball Player of the Year, Junior Sportsman of the Year, and an Academic Achievement Award at Sonitusskool in Pretoria, South Africa.
• Men under-16 T/F44 gold and South African record in Javelin (29.96m), gold in Long Jump, gold in Shot Put and silver in the 100m for Gauteng at the 2016 Nedbank SASAPD National Para Athletics Championships in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
• Certificate for Outstanding Achievement in Athletics from the Gauteng North Sports Association for the Physically Disabled in South Africa in 2015.
• Men under-16 T/F44 Long Jump, Shot Put and Javelin gold, and 100m silver, for Gauteng at the 2015 SASAPD Nedbank National Athletics Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Represented Gauteng at the 2014 Nedbank SASAPD National Athletics Championships in Stellenbosch, South Africa and won gold in the Men under-16 T/F44 javelin and long jump finals.
• Selected for his school’s softball team that went on to win the league in 2013.
• Jumping Kids ambassador at Water4Good in 2012 with Paralympian Arnu Fourie and the StepUp500 Challenge in 2013 with Paralympian Tyrone Pillay.
• participates in rugby, cricket, swimming, athletics and horse riding
• selected for his school’s softball team. His team won the league in 2013
• represented Jumping Kids at  its launch (2009), Is Ability Awareness Day (2011), Water4Good event (2012),  Warrior Race Series, StepUp500 Challenge, Celebrity Cycle Tour (2013)
• represented Gauteng at the 2014 Nedbank National Athletics Championships where he threw a 20.05 meter distance for gold in the under-16 F44 javelin event, and secured a  second gold in the long jump with a leap measuring 2.57 meters
• Boys under 16 F44 gold – long jump, shot put & javelin – plus T44 100m silver at the 2015 SASAPD Nedbank National Athletics Championships
• Certificate for Outstanding Achievement in Athletics – Gauteng North Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (September 2015)
• Unite&Excite event with Richard Whitehead (February 2016)
• Boys under-16 T/F44 – SAR in Javelin (29.96m), gold in Long Jump & Shot Put, silver in 100 meter (T44)  AT Nedbank National Athletics Championships (March 2016)
•  Trowing Clinic with  Jackie Christiansen (April 2016)
• Boys under-16 T/F44 SA Record in Javelin (29.96m), two gold (Long Jump,Shot Put), and one silver (100 meter dash) at the SASAPD National Athletics Championships (Bloemfontein, 2016)
• 2016 Softball Player of the Year, Junior Sportsman of the Year, Academic Achievement Award at Sonitusskool Pretoria
• 2016 LSEN Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Gauteng School Sport Awards
• Nominated for the School Sport Star of the Year award at the 2017 Gauteng Sport Awards
• U-20 Men Javelin gold (34.78m) and U-18 Men Long Jump bronze (3.68m) at the 2017 International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Games
• Gold in the mixed classification Javelin under 17 male final with a distance of 42.43 meters and  bronze medals in both the Shot Put (7.61m) and Discus (23.98m) male under 20 finals at the 2018 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Youth World Games