Kearsney old boy Mpumi Mhlongo wins Paralympic gold

2 September 2024

Mpumelelo “Mpumi” Mhlongo sped to South Africa’s first gold medal of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris on Sunday night, winning the T44 100 metres race.

The Kearsney College old boy crossed the line in 11.12 seconds, with Cuba’s Yamel Vives Suarez claiming the bronze medal in 11.20 and Eddy Bernard, from Malaysia, winning bronze in 11.58.

Mhlongo was South Africa’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony in Paris. Earlier this year, he was named Athletics South Africa’s Sportsman of the Year with a Disability.

After the race, Mhlongo admitted he could have done better because he had a poor start, but he was thrilled to have placed South African on the medal table. He was especially happy, Mhlongo said, to have his wife, mother, and mother-in-law in the stands to witness his race to Paralympic gold.

An exceptionally talented all-rounder and leader from an early age, Mhlongo was head of house at Kearsney and the head of Kearsney’s acclaimed choir when it won gold at the 2012 World Choir Games. He also captained the 2nd football team.

Mhlongo was  a standout performer in the class room, too. He achieved Academic Honours Cum Laude and received seven
distinctions in the IEB matric final exams. Astonishingly, he also speaks six languages – English, isiZulu, isiXhosa,
Afrikaans, French and Portuguese.

Mhlongo, who also represented South Africa at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, was already a Paralympic record holder, and a T44 world record holder in the 100m, 200m and long jump.

Now 30 years of age, he was born with a congenital deformity which left his right foot severely deformed and the chances of amputation were strong. The development of his fingers was affected, as well. Undaunted, he never let those physical challenges hold him back while growing up in Klaarwater.