International para-athletics sensation Puseletso Mabote reached another historic career milestone on Sunday evening, 23 August 2026, taking home the prestigious Sportsman of the Year with a Disability award at the South Africa Sport Awards.
The victory was celebrated by family and fans from Heidelberg to the rest of the country as the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Sports for Students with Disabilities Club star continues to dominate global athletics.
Mabote, who competes in the 100m sprint, 400m, and long jump, has built a career defined by extraordinary resilience.
At just ten years old, a life-altering road traffic accident resulted in the amputation of his right leg. Refusing to let adversity dictate his trajectory, he turned to sports, finding a life-changing partnership with the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund.
The organization introduced Mabote to para-athletics and equipped him with high-performance running blades, paving the way for his international debut at the IWAS World Games in Portugal just two years later.
Since stepping onto the global stage, Mabote’s rise has been relentless:
- World-Record Versatility: At the SASAPD National Championships in Stellenbosch earlier this year, Mabote shattered the Men’s T63 400m World Record with an astonishing time of 1:00.74.
- Continental Speed: He holds the African record in the T63 100m sprint with a blistering 12.05-second run set in Paris, ranking him as the second-fastest T63 sprinter in the world.
- Dominance in the Field: Mabote also holds the T64 long jump African record with a massive 7.01-meter leap, securing a No. 4 world ranking in the event.
At only 20 years of age, Mabote has already represented South Africa at two Paralympic Games, claimed World Championship silverware, and flown the national flag across Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and India.
For young aspiring athletes across Heidelberg and the broader Sedibeng community, Mabote’s latest national accolade serves as a powerful reminder of how discipline, community support, and relentless drive can transform life’s greatest challenges into world-class achievement.
Congratulations from all of us at Mapepeza News Media
