South Africa won its second gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics on Saturday through incredible long-jumper Hilton Langenhoven.
Langenhoven has been tested more than most. He was born an albino and is the only one in his family with impaired vision.
“It’s absolutely amazing when I think about the agony I put my family through, the whole team and the country,” said Langenhoven.
“The Paralympics are so limited so if you’re selected, you have to make it count. I’m glad this one was counted as a gold medal for our team.”
The versatile athlete bagged his fourth career Paralympic gold medal, and his first in eight years, leaping to victory in the men’s long jump T12 final in Rio on Saturday.
Langenhoven produced a best effort of 7.07m, taking the win just two centimetres clear of Azerbaijan’s Kamil Aliyev.
The incredible athlete had gone 6.86m on his first attempt, a season’s best, but that distance had left him in second place.
This gold follows that of swimmer Kevin Paul on the opening day of competition.
Team South Africa had more reason for celebration on Saturday with the news that Charl du Tooit had broken the 100m world record in his category in a time of 11.42 in the heats. That final takes place on Sunday and will hopefully provide South Africa with another medal.
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