Mpumelelo Mhlongo Breaks His T44 World Record As He Wins T64 Bronze Medal At Paris Paralympics

Mpumelelo Mhlongo calls himself blessed but rarely has someone deserved things to go his way as they did for the 30-year-old at the 2024 Paralympics on Saturday night. If you held a secret poll among his teammates as to who wins the title of Mr Nice Guy in this squad, he would be a clear winner.

Speaking of scooping titles, the man with the golden smile, picked up the bronze medal in the mens T64 200m final, albeit with a dose of fortune at the Stade de France, in front of an electric crowd where he has knocked out two world records.

There was no luck however in the time he ran, a scorching 22.62sec which originally placed him fourth as a T44 athlete among his T64 opponents. However, minutes later it elevated him to third as German Feliz Strenge, who had crossed the line in second, was disqualified for stepping out of his lane eight. A protest followed, but it was unsuccessful and the result stood.

Not only did Mhlongo get promoted to third and bronze to go with the gold he won in the T44 100m, but his time was a fresh world record for the T44 class, breaking his existing mark of 22.81 set at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, three years ago.

Mhlongos bronze medal also took Team SAs overall count to six two golds and four bronzes.