How Puseletso Mabote rebuilt his confidence after Paralympics disappointment

The 20-year-old finished fifth and sixth in the Men’s long jump T63 and the men’s 100m T63 events, respectively.

He did mention during the welcoming event of Paralympic gold medalist Mpumelelo Mhlongo that he was disheartened by this result whilst asking Mhlongo for advice on how he can move forward from disappointment.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Mabote shares that when he got back to the country, he started working on what he believed were his weaknesses.

“The Paris 2024 Paralympics broke me for a lack of better words but I've been using the whole year since to rebuild myself and rediscover my talent and to find myself again. To redefine myself," Mabote said.

"After Paris last year I had to sit down by myself and think, okay is this all you are worth. Is this how far I can go? Or I can I go even further than this? Speaking to my subconscious mind, the ambition in me was relentless in a sense of, I do not ever want to lose and losing is the same as forfeiting my life itself, that's how personal I take my sport, especially my 100m."

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In 2024 Mabote broke the world record in the men's 200m T63 event and African record in long jump and another African record in the 100m T63 event at the World Champs in Kobe, Japan.

The Johannesburg born athlete who was crowned a world champion on Sunday, also equaled the world record in the 100m T63 event.

He details how he was able to rebuild again after Paris.

"After Paris, I had to find myself again, I had to build myself up again and make sure that I'm in the right headspace to come back to the sport. Try and gain as much momentum as possible towards the World Championships because if I couldn't put my best foot forward, which I couldn't do last year, I don't think I'd be confident enough to fully realise my potential further into the sport," he added.

"This year was a pivotal changing point, it was a year of rediscovery and redemption."