Thandiwe to participate in Special Olympics
“We are teaching the learners that they can make it even though they were born with physical challenges."
Tsakane – Young golfer Thandiwe Pringle from Matshidiso LSEN will be jetting off to Abu Dhabi to participate in the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2019 in March.
She was selected to be part of team SA in April during the Special Olympics SA.
The Special Olympics World Games are dedicated to serving athletes with intellectual disabilities through sport competitions.
Thandiwe also excels in netball, 100m and 200m running.
The all-rounder sports player says she is happy to have made it this far in the competition.
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“Together with my coach, who encouraged me to join her team, I have been working hard to qualify.
“I was not interested in playing golf in the beginning because I didn’t know about it, but the teacher and coach believed in me and encouraged me to join in 2017.
“I soon fell in love and in the same year I received a gold medal in the Special Olympics SA beginners’ category and succeeded in the next leg of the competition.
“Last year in the same competition, I received gold and was selected as team SA to participate in the world games in Abu Dhabi,” she says.
Coach Juliana Mbele says the school is proud of Thandiwe for achieving this milestone.
“Our school focuses on young people with special needs and focuses mostly on empowering them through sports and life skills.
“We are teaching the learners that they can make it even though they were born with physical challenges.
“Through the years we have seen our learners participating in international competitions and making it,” she says.
Juliana says they encourage parents to enrol their children in a special school where they will receive training to better their lives.
