Bongani sets SA record in long jump
KwaThema - Athlete Bongani Mahlangu (18) will represent South Africa at this year’s International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) Junior World Games taking place in the Netherlands from July 2 to 8.
Bongani is one of five promising athletes associated with the ‘Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund‘ who will be heading abroad.
The teenager lost his leg following a car accident in December 2009.
He says he has his sights set on the 2020 Paralympic Games and performed very well at this year’s Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled, which were held at the University of Johannesburg in April.
He explains he set a new South African record at the championships in the U/20 T44 long jump with a world qualifying leap of 5.28m, and went on to take silver in the 100m and 200m sprints.
Bongani, who hails from KwaThema, is currently in matric at Zimisele Secondary School.
“I train on a daily basis and am ready to compete in the Netherlands with other top athletes from around the world,” he says.
Bongani won his first won gold medal in 2010 at the Nedbank National Championships for the Disabled.
He was encouraged to pursue a career in sports by Johan Snyders, the founder of ‘Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund’.
Bongani’s grandfather Lucas Mahlangu says he is very proud of his grandson and hopes he strikes a balance between his sport and education.
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