The story of Ntando Mahlangu is nothing short of awe-inspiring, which has captured the hearts of many around the world. From losing both his legs at a young age to rising as the fastest Paralympic sprinter, Ntando’s journey is a powerful reminder of the human spirit and the extraordinary power of never giving up.
Ntando Mahlangu: The Man Who Made It Possible
Ntando Mahlangu was born with fibular hemimelia, a condition that caused his legs not to develop fully below the knees. For the first ten years of his life, he navigated a world largely from a wheelchair, in the rural communities of South Africa, where acceptance wasn’t always easy to come by.
But instead of letting his circumstances define him, Ntando embraced the challenge head-on. In 2012, at the tender age of ten, he made the life-changing decision to undergo a double amputation at the knees to give himself a better chance at mobility. Soon after, he received his first set of running blades from a South African charity called Jumping Kids. That moment was the spark that ignited an extraordinary athletic journey.
The Journey To Sprinting
Running wasn’t just a sport for Ntando Mahlangu; it became an expression of freedom and a showcase for his mental strength. Just four years later, at only 14 years old, he stunned the world by winning a silver medal in the men’s 200-meter T42 event at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Almost unheard of for someone so young to compete, let alone medal, this achievement marked Ntando as a blazing star on the Paralympic sprinting scene. He also set a new African record, proving that age was just a number for this prodigy.
But Ntando Mahlangu wasn’t done yet. The next few years were a whirlwind of world records and gold medals. At the 2017 World Junior Championships, he broke new ground by winning four gold medals and setting world records in the 100 meters and 400 meters, establishing himself as one of the most formidable talents in para-athletics.
His crowning moment came at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, where he grabbed gold in the men’s T61 200 meters. Then, at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, Ntando truly cemented his legacy by winning gold in both the men’s long jump T63, with a jaw-dropping world record leap of 7.17 meters, and the men’s 200 meters T61 events.
Despite setbacks like a serious neck injury from a car accident, Ntando Mahlangu’s spirit remains unbreakable. His resilience and drive to not only succeed but to give back are what make him a true champion both on and off the track.
Also read: The Story Of Billy Monger: The Racer Who Lost Both His Legs
