South Africa has a new sporting hero step forward Mpumelelo Mhlongo, who delivered the countrys first medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Not only was he the first medallist but it was gold as he scorched to victory in the T44 100m final at Stade de France in Paris on Sunday night.
I didnt execute the race perfectly and at 60m I told myself, 'I have to wake up'. But its job done. We got the gold and hopefully now the floodgates will open, said the 30-year-old Team SA athlete.
Mhlongo, who lives and works in Johannesburg, came into the final as the favourite. He delivered on that tag in front of an 80,000 crowd.
He led from start to finish in lane four to subdue the challenge thrown down by Cuban Yamel Vives Suarez and crossed the line in 11.12 seconds. Mhlongo holds the world record at 11.00 and admitted he had been in the type of form to scare that mark.
