Making a difference
The story of fourteen year old Ntando Mahlangu is probably one of the most inspirational stories to come out of the Jumping Kids Foundation.
Born with a congenital condition known as Hemimelia, where the lower part of the leg does not fully develop, Ntando spent most of his young life in a wheelchair. In 2012, the youngster from Mpumalanga was fitted with his first set of Jumping Kids sports prostheses, also known as blades.
Within weeks he was running and, subsequently, created quite a stir on the local, and international, junior para-athletics scene.
At this year’s Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled (March), Ntando set the track alight by setting a 400m World Record (53.19s) to add to his African Records in the 100-, 200-, and 800 meter races.
He followed this by stunning spectators with a bronze result in the under-16 400 meter event at the ‘able-body’ Athletics South Arica (ASA) Sub-Youth, Youth, Junior and Under-23 Championships that took place in Germiston (April). He also formed part of the Gauteng North under-16 relay team that won gold.
Based on his superb performances over the past two years, Ntando received an automatic entry to the 2016 IWAS (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sport) World Under-23 Games that took place in July in Czech Republic’s beautiful city of Prague.
With his entry sorted, all Ntando now needed was to actually get to Prague. Having collaborated with Jumping Kids before, GibConsult decided to get involved.
“We believe in giving back. Partnering with Jumping Kids over the last few years has given us the opportunity to assist children, like Ntando, to access something we take for granted every day – the ability to walk, get active, participate in sport, and attend mainstream education,” says GibConsult managing director, Stefan Műller. “Ntando and I have an agreement. He will stick to the short distances and not compete against me in ultramarathons”, Stefan added.
By sponsoring Ntando’s travels to and from the Games, GibConsult assisted him to do what he does best, excel on the athletics track.
Ntando started his IWAS campaign with 25.88 second result for gold in the 200 meter race and followed that with gold, and new World Record (2:06.70) in the 800 meter event.
Then, chasing his own 400m T42 time, Ntando dashed to the finish in 52.61 seconds for an even better world mark. He added another gold in the 100 meter item, as well as the Best Athlete of the Games award, to wrap things up in Prague.
“We are so proud of Ntando and would like to thank GibConsult for helping to make his dream a reality. He is proof that, with access to the correct equipment, rehabilitation, and a solid support system, there is no limit to what children living with leg amputations can achieve,” says Michael Stevens from Jumping Kids.
Ntando will be representing South Africa at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in September.
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