South African para-athlete Mpumelelo Mhlongo celebrates gold at Paris Paralympics. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
South Africa’s Mpumelelo Mhlongo secured Team SA’s first medal at the Paris Paralympics, cruising to gold in the Men’s T44 100m on Sunday evening.
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Running in lane four, Mhlongo, who holds the world record of 11.00, started strong out the blocks and surged ahead of the field, crossing the finish line with a season’s best 11.12.
Mhlongo finished ahead of Cuba’s Yamel Vives Suarez in second (11.20) while Eddy Bernard of Malaysia came in third (11.58).
READ | SA’s Paris hero Mhlongo hopes 100m gold will ‘open the floodgates for our country’
Mhlongo, who carried South Africa’s flag at the opening ceremony, bagged his first Paralympic medal in his second Games.
The 30-year-old hopes to continue his Paralympic run in Paris with the T64 200m and T64 long jump events on his schedule.
President Cyril Ramaphosa took to social media to congratulate Mhlongo, stating that “Team SA continues to delight and inspire us” in Paris.
The Golden Highway at Paralympics just opened. More gold to follow ??????????????????, well done Mpumelelo Mhlo???????????????????????????????????????? https://t.co/b5Dys0JGYH
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) September 1, 2024
Congratulations to our prized Paralympian Mpumelelo Mhlongo on winning gold in the men’s 100m T44 race at the Paris Paralympics. Team SA continues to delight and inspire us on the world stage. pic.twitter.com/qgfyh5PleP
— Cyril Ramaphosa ???? (@CyrilRamaphosa) September 2, 2024
Magnificent win ???????? ??Congratulations to our paralympian Gold Medalist, Mpumelelo Mhlongo ?????? Spectacular triumph over adversity ?? https://t.co/X5VDCVtHnY
— Mike Abel (@abelmike) September 1, 2024
What a champ!First Gold for Team SA at the Paralympics as Mpumi Mhlongo wins the mens T44 100m final in a seasons best time.#MoreWinning
— Ben Karpinski (@followthebounce) September 1, 2024
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