WALKING through his high school brought fond memories of love and brotherhood for the country’s olympic hero, Mpumelelo Mhlongo, fondly known as Mpumi.
Born with a disability and growing up in Klaarwater, little did he know that he would one day become a three-time Paralympian and record-breaking athlete, and his story has inspired many South Africans.
He was born with a congenital deformity that left his right foot severely deformed and the chance of amputation strong, and the development of his fingers was also affected.
He credited his mother for the support she has given him.
Also read: Highway’s Paralympian wins SA’s first gold medal
“I always call my mother a protagonist of my childhood. Without her, I would never be sitting in any room of significance.
“Basically, in the first 12 to 13 years, parents are fully in control of the life that their child lives, and they often say that up until high school, the performance of a child is the reflection of the amount of effort, love and time the parents put in. [I wouldn’t have reached this point in my life] without my mother, who named me Mpumelele – ‘success’ – despite my disability and said, ‘Just you watch; I will pour all the love, support and all the right thinking into this boy, and he will never once sit in a room and feels like he does not belong.’”
He said that young people should find something that truly energises them every day, but most importantly, have daily discipline and give 110%.
“Also, I always say that comparison really is the thief of all joy – don’t be looking at other people’s [speed at reaching goals] and assume that you should be matching where they are in life.”
For Mhlongo, sport has truly unlocked opportunities for him.
Also read: Building a collective legacy by unlocking socio-economic benefits for communities
“Without giving my best, I would not have ended up in a prestigious school such as Kearsney College. If you give your best, doors will open, and there are people who are always willing to help, and establishments like Kearsney College are always looking for young South Africans to be the future leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
As a proud ambassador for STEPS, an organisation dedicated to treating clubfoot and promoting early detection, Mhlongo is committed to raising awareness and destigmatising disabilities. “I believe that it takes a village to raise a child, and just because you were born with a disability, does not mean that your life has certain caps or limitations.”
Olympic journey
Mhlongo was a flagbearer for Team SA, he won gold in the Men’s 100m (T44 Category), bronze in the Men’s 200m T64, and broke the world records in both the Men’s 200m T44 and Men’s Long Jump T44 at the Paris Paralympic Games.
At his high school, Mhlongo was an exceptional all-rounder, serving as head of Finningley House, head of the Kearsney College choir, winning gold at the 2012 World Choir Games, captain of the school’s second soccer team, and a top academic, achieving academic honours Cum Laude and seven distinctions in matric.
Mpumi speaks six languages, won Sportsperson of the Year at the University of Cape Town for five consecutive years, and is currently studying towards a PhD in Chemical Engineering.
For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok
