A lot has happened since fourteen year old Ntando Mahlangu (T42), a beneficiary of the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund since 2012, received the IWAS  Athlete with International Potential Award at the IWAS World Junior Games last year.

Jumping Kids is a non-profit organisation that provides new technology prosthetic solutions, and rehabilitation, to children from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. The main goal is to give children, living with lower limb amputations a chance to be active, attend mainstream schools, and live their dreams.

Ntando, who became a Jumping Kids beneficiary when he was fitted with his first set of ‘blades’ at a media event (September 2012) arranged by Avis South Africa, is living proof of getting it right.

Not only did he win Gauteng North Sports Association for the Physically Disabled’s Most Developed Athlete, Junior Sportsman and Overall Sports Winner of the Year at the end of 2015, he also recently won the Gauteng School Sport LSEN Male Athlete of the Year Award.

However, it was his performance at this year’s Nedbank National Championships for Physically Disabled and Visually Impaired in Bloemfontein (21-23 March) that really stands out.

Starting with an African Record in the Final Men T42 200m (26.20s), 100m (13.34s), and, unofficially, the 800m (2:14.00s); the fourteen year old followed-up with a World Record (53.19s) in the Men’s Open 400m T42 item  – a record previously held by Richard Whitehead.

“I am happy with my results, it is what I have been training for,” says the Laërskool Constantiapark learner who also loves playing hockey and has a passion for music.

Ntando is also representing his province in the under-16 400m and Relay Medley at the Sub-Youth, Youth, Junior and Under-23 National Championships, an ‘able-body’ event, taking place at Germiston Athletics Stadium (31 March – 2 April).   

The youngster from Mpumalanga had the crowd on their feet as he blitzed to yet another World mark of 51.36 seconds, bettering his own 400m T42 record in the Heats on Day One (31 March). The finals are scheduled for Saturday (2 April).

“We are very proud of Ntando. It is incredible what he is achieving a little over three years since we first met. Back then, at his first consultation, I asked him what he wants to be able to do with his new prostheses. He answered, ‘I just want to run’. So, we fit him with blades and now he is living his dream,” says Guardian, Johan Snyders – also the Founder of the Jumping Kids Fund.

IWAS wishes Ntando the best of luck for the future of his blossoming sporting career – we look forward to hosting Ntando and his fellow athletes at Jumping Kids (South Africa) at the IWAS Under 23 World Games 2016!