Mpumelelo Mhlongo

Mpumi (kearsney.com, 2015)

Being named the 2015 and 2016 Sportsperson of the Year by the University of Cape Town in South Africa. (Athlete, 12 Jul 2017)

His mother. (Athlete, 12 Jul 2017)

South African Para sprinter Ntando Mahlangu. (Athlete, 12 Jul 2017)

He developed a knee injury known as patellar tendonitis [jumpers knee] while in grade nine at high school. The injury prevented him from competing in several European competitions in early 2016. (uct.ac.za, 20 Jul 2016)

"To be great means to enjoy what you do a little more every day." (Athlete, 12 Jul 2017)

He was named the Sportsperson of the Year from 2015 to 2018 by the University of Cape Town in South Africa. (news.uct.ac.za, 22 Oct 2018; Athlete, 12 Jul 2017)

He played football at primary school and was offered a place at South African football club side Mamelodi Sundowns' academy. However, his father did not allow him to join and he started high school instead. (uct.ac.za, 20 Jul 2016)

His younger brother Asane has competed in sprinting. (uct.ac.za, 20 Jul 2016)

To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (mpumi2020.com, 12 Jul 2019)

He was born with amniotic band syndrome, a condition at birth when the foetus becomes entangled in fibrous amniotic bands in the womb, restricting blood flow. He was also born with congenital talipes equinovarus [club foot]. (Athlete, 12 Jul 2017; varsitynewspaper.co.za, 28 Jul 2015)

MOVEMENT
In 2019 he began a campaign using the hashtag '#SomeoneWhoCares' on social media to shine a light on those suffering in silence due to an impairment. "This is not just an African challenge but one for the entire world, even if the situation within my continent seems that much more bleak. The truth is that despite being part of the community, I do not know how to change the way the disabled are viewed in South Africa and other countries across the continent. However, I do believe that through my successes as a Para athlete and advocacy, a global spotlight can be shone on this issue; and if that can happen, change could happen." (medium.com, 12 Jul 2019)

BUSINESS OWNER
In 2018 he and school friend Zain Bana founded Steady State in Cape Town, South Africa, a start-up aimed to utilise new and emerging IT solutions to improve healthcare delivery and access. (mg.co.za, 02 Aug 2019; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2019)

FURTHER EDUCATION
In 2018 he graduated with a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. In the following year he continued to pursue a PhD in chemical engineering at the same university. He expects to graduate in 2021. (mg.co.za, 02 Aug 2019; medium.com, 12 Jul 2019; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2019)

CHOIR SINGER
He was a part of the Kearnsley College choir team that won the folklore category at the 2012 World Choir Championships in Cincinnati, OH, United States of America. (Athlete, 23 Oct 2015)