Olu’s fearless run for the try line reminds us that limitations can be overcome with a little courage.
Hankey, Eastern Cape (19 August 2025) – Seven-year-old Oluthando ‘Olu’ Nkosinkulu from Hankey in the Eastern Cape has gone viral for a moment that proves you can do anything you set your mind to.
Born with a disability, Olu had his left foot amputated as a baby through a Syme procedure, leaving him with one functioning leg. But his mom, Natasha, made sure he grew up believing he could do anything with enough courage.
“I have not brought my son up to believe that he has a disability,” she tells us. “I brought him up with the belief that there is nothing you cannot do, if you try. I’ve never let the fact that he has one leg get in the way.”
A busy Grade R learner at Laerskool Hankey, Olu loves athletics and sport. This year, he even joined his school’s rugby team.
“Myself and his school decided at the beginning of his Grade R year that he would be free to play any sport he chooses, as long as there’s no rule that says you’re not allowed to play with a missing leg.” Natasha shares.
Over the weekend, he ditched his crutches and took to the field with his under-6 and 7 teammates for their first official game. One they have been practising for all year.
That’s when a fellow parent, Jason Wayne Du-Plooy, captured the moment Olu charged down the line.
With one less leg than his opponents, he pushed forward with buckets of courage, lunging for the try line. His foot just slipped over – so technically it wasn’t a score – but in that moment, he’d already won something far bigger.
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The clip has racked up more than 2.1 million views online, with South Africans flooding the comments to cheer him on.
“Well done Young man!!! Well done to the individuals who included him in this team and sport!” wrote one supporter.
“What a wonderful try!!! What a brave young player, diving for that line!!!” added another.
And as the parent who filmed the video put it: “He participates in everything, even running athletics on crutches, so trust me when I tell you nobody is holding back, he is a live wire on crutches and even better without crutches”.
The viral video showed just how far courage can carry you.
While Olu’s parents are realistic about the challenges he may face in future, they continue to support his love for sport. Especially athletics, which remains his biggest passion.
One of Olu’s biggest dreams is to one day run with a blade, giving him the speed he loves on the field.
For now, his story has already reached and inspired millions. It shows that with the right support, determination and love, children can write their own rules.
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