Mpumalanga Paralympian Collen Mahlalela is preparing to compete at the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships (WPAC) in India. Mahlalela will represent South Africa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which will host over 1 000 athletes during the championships running from September 27 to October 5. This year marks the 12th edition of the WPAC.
The athlete, who hails from eMasibekela in Nkomazi, qualified for Operation Excellence last year at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. In February 2025, he competed in the Winelands International Para Athletics Competition at the Coetzenburg Athletics Stadium in Stellenbosch, winning first place in both the 100m and 400m races.
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His next event was the 2025 Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Gqeberha, held at the end of March, where he again claimed gold in the 100m and 400m. Mahlalela said this is where he secured his qualification for the upcoming championships in September.
Currently, he is preparing for the competition under the guidance of his personal trainer and coach, Hennie Kriel, at TUKS in Pretoria.
“As part of my preparation, I do quality training and tempo sessions every morning around 8:00. I also include long runs in my routine and carefully watch my diet, avoiding spicy food,” Mahlalela said.
He hopes to win gold in India, saying that breaking a record will unlock opportunities and contracts promised
to him.
“Nothing beats determination and focus. Anyone living with a disability should not let that hinder them in any way, because anything is possible if you believe and work at it,” he said.
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Collen Mahlalela represented South Africa at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, competing in the first round of the T47 400m race. He won silver in the men’s 400m T47 at the 2024
WPAC in Kobe, Japan. At the 2024 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, he earned both a silver and a bronze medal.
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