Mpumelelo Mhlongo turns focus to Paralympics after SA Sports Awards win

Speaking to SABC Sport, Mhlongo says preparations for the Games have been going accordingly over the past three years and he is more than ready for Paris 2024.

"The best we've ever felt, it's been a really good preparation over the last, I'd call it, three years, and we are ready and know exactly what will work, since we've had the trial and errors going into World Champs," said Mhlongo.

"So we're just excited to be out there and to represent the country."

The Para Athlete, who recently recovered from a grade 2 hamstring tear, participated in the South African Sports for Physically Disabled National Championships in Bloemfontein earlier this year, and says it was a good test of his fitness levels ahead of the Paralympics.

"National Champs, for us, was just a 'feel the body', and there's a lot of work we need to do, but we're coming back from an injury, so it was more to show that we are, even when we're injured, at world class shape," he added.

"So we didn't take it as anything other than a nice run-through, be there with a crowd, so that the youth coming up also sees that we do take our National Championships seriously."

Despite having won Gold in the 100m T44 at the World Para Athletics Championships last year, he says he never thought he would be honoured with such a huge award.

"It feels surreal. I never thought I'd be one person standing on stage, coming to accept Sportsman of the Year with a Disability, with all the talent and exposure we have in South Africa," he reflected.

Mhlongo was nominated alongside top-ranked South African golfer David Watts and Wheelchair Tennis star Donald Ramphadi.

READ: SASCOC unveil Team SA for 2024 Para Athletics World Championships