South African Ntando Mahlangu wins Paralympic gold in Tokyo with world record
Thomas LOVELOCK / OIS / IOC / AFP
South Africans rejoiced on Saturday when the para-athletes Anrune weyers and Ntando Mahlangu won gold for the country at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Mahlangu won gold in the T63 long jump final and set a new world record with a jump of 7.17m, edging Germany’s Leon Schaefer by 7.12.
Weyers won her final in the 400m T45 with a time of 56.05, ahead of second-placed Venezuelan Lisbeli Vera Andrade (57.32).
LIVE | Tokyo Paralympic Games – Live coverage of the SA team
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated Mahlangu and Weyers for their outstanding achievement in Tokyo.
The South African anthem has sounded twice in Tokyo as politicians, other sports stars and ordinary people all paid tribute to the duo’s incredible success on track and field.
This follows the SA Olympic athletics team, which failed to reach the podium for the first time since its readmission.
SA’s Paralympic contingent have so far accumulated two medals and the Paralympic Games are scheduled to end on September 5th.
???? Congratulations to our star athletes Ntando Mahlangu and Anrune Weyers for obtaining #TeamSouthAfricafirst medals @ Tokyo2020 #Paralympic Games earlier today. Ntando won gold in the men’s T61 long jump with a new world record and Anruné won the women’s 400m. Exceptional! pic.twitter.com/QCPucFVivt
– Cyril Ramaphosa ???? #Stay safe (@CyrilRamaphosa) August 28, 2021
CONGRATULATIONS ? ? to Anrune Weyers for winning the gold medal for the 400m F47 and the women’s race
Ntando Mahlangu for breaking the world record of 7.02m with an exceptional jump of 7.17m in the men’s long jump T61 in the # Tokyo2020 #Paralympic Games?????? @rogersedres @SuperSportTV pic.twitter.com/dt9gq0814i
– South African government (@GovernmentZA) August 29, 2021
Gold and world record !!! Paralympian Ntando Mahlangu, Bravo young man! # Tokyo2020Paralympic Games @ TeamSA2020 pic.twitter.com/bZDIdMK4tH
– khotso Mokoena, OLY ?? (@mokoenainspires) August 28, 2021
Our very own Ntando Mahlangu jumped 7.17 meters in the men’s long jump – T63, winning gold and setting a new T61 world record! Siyaziqhenya ngawe! ????????#ParaAthletics # Tokyo2020 #Paralympic Games
?? @ TeamSA2020 @Paralympic Games pic.twitter.com/b0wUBXZsAK
– Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) August 28, 2021
We: @AnRUNel and Ntando, any thoughts on gold medal performance please? ??????
Them: pic.twitter.com/4rcbms1vn1
– Team South Africa (@ TeamSA2020) August 29, 2021
A job well done to Anrune Weyers who won # TeamSAthe first medal of the #TokyoParalympics.
She won GOLD as the winner of the women’s 400m final (T47). She won in 56.05 seconds. We salute you Ndlovukazi! ??????? pic.twitter.com/aRQAFKj6Dn
– Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) August 28, 2021
Congratulations to Ntando Mahlangu for setting an incredible new world record of 7.02 meters in the long jump event.@sa_nlc@ teamsa2020@paralympics#paralympics pic.twitter.com/X3DESBxNUa
– Mzilikazi wa Afrika (@IamMzilikazi) August 28, 2021
Amazing scenes from Tokyo today for @ TeamSA2020
Ntando Mahlangu Or x WR
Arune Weyers GoldPrepare your portfolio @NathiMthethwaSA pic.twitter.com/OdExkN3G8U
– Mike Sharman (@mikesharman) August 28, 2021
We live in a world where fact and fiction collide
In uncertain times, you need journalism you can trust. For only R75 per month, you have access to a world of in-depth analysis, investigative journalism, leading opinions, and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today.