Mhlongo's long jump towards success

JOHANNESBURG - Mpumelelo Mhlongo has every right to admire his personal honours board, which reveals milestones on and off the field. But the Paralympian's race is far from run. If anything, the best moments lie ahead if the man from KwaZulu-Natal gets his way and he often does.

Mhlongo is building up to July's World Para-athletics Championships in Paris, which will have a bearing on South Africa's qualification slots for next year's Paralympics in the same city.

The sprinter and long jumper, who blew out the candles of his 29th birthday in March, is already familiar with podium steps at a global event. Mhlongo won a silver medal in the T44 100 metres at the 2019 Para-athletics Championships held in Dubai.

He put another medal around his neck during those championships, an achievement that was particularly significant in the T44 long jump.

“We had a barrier of seven metres, where apparently nobody in our class could jump over. We did it while getting a bronze medal, which was absolutely incredible,” recalled a proud Mhlongo when speaking to eNCA.

Indeed, he has the distinction of setting records in the T44 long jump, the T44 100 metres as well as the T44 200 metres.

The Investec employee's determination has persuaded the company to sponsor his journey in track and field, something most Para-Athletes can only dream of at this stage.

On first look, you might assume Mhlongo is a fully able-bodied athlete. His sculpted frame often masks the effects of Amniotic Band Syndrome, a congenital disorder which, among other things, resulted in fingers and toes not being fully formed.

This has led to a lower limb deficiency in one of Mhlongo's legs, which makes him eligible for the T44 Para-athletics category.

“The disability has been strange. From a community aspect, you are fighting social stereotypes of black magic, etc. From a world stage aspect, you are constantly compared (to other big names). Can you beat Bolt? That’s what people are interested in,” said Mhlongo.

The man who calls himself the 'Usain Bolt of his class' does not want to limit himself in terms of what he can still achieve. “In our team we have a slogan. We want to see what’s on the other end of potential. We haven’t had any ceilings of world records or gold medals… we’ve been there, done that. The real goal is to see if we can surpass anything that was a limitation in the past.”

It's an ambitious goal but Mhlongo does not do half-measures. He holds a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and is pursuing a PhD qualification in the same field. Involvement in non-profit causes also features heavily in a relentless schedule. One of them is Jumping Kids, an organisation that helps previously disadvantaged children to access prosthetic equipment.

The Para-athlete has also been a proud recipient of the Western Cape Ministerial Commendation award, for playing his part in raising funds for the upliftment of Para-sport.

"Getting the Ministerial award just after Covid-19 for my community work is a career highlight. I can’t fathom how I ever managed to use this platform to influence the community and give back."

Mhlongo's positive outlook would be enhanced still further if the country’s Para-athletes got more support.

"If we can get more people coming to the stadium, really showing their support, it starts really from school. If we can have more parents involved in Para-sport, I believe that will filter through into our nationals and world champs."

Investec's backing is a major part of Mhlongo's support system as he navigates the latest phase of his career. A solid family foundation, supplemented by his wife Monique’s loyal support, all add colour to the story of a long jumping sprinter whose jet heels blaze a trail of success on the track and field we call life. If Mhlongo continues to treat ‘limits’ as a myth, Paris is not ready for him.

- Kanyiso Colani