Dustin Wetdewich

Lightning struck twice at Coetzenburg Stadium, and both bolts bore the name Puseletso Mabote.

The 20-year-old para-athletics phenomenon tore through the record books once again, delivering a performance that left the Toyota SASAPD National Championships crowd roaring in disbelief. On Wednesday 1 April what seemed like an April Fool’s miracle was anything but, as Mabote annihilated the men’s T63 400 m World Record with a 60,74-second run.

The Stellenbosch University (SU) student crossed the line with the kind of explosive finishing speed that has become his trademark, shaving precious time off the previous global standard in an event where every hundredth of a second is earned through blood, sweat and relentless determination. Pending official ratification, the performance cemented Mabote’s position as one of South Africa’s brightest para-athletics stars.

The 400 m heroics represented the crown jewel in what proved to be a busy week for the Maties sprinter.

Before his record-breaking long-distance blast, Mabote had already showcased his devastating acceleration in the T63 100 m, posting a solid 12,23 seconds that served as the perfect appetiser for the main course to come.

For an athlete who first seized global attention with gold at the 2025 World Championships in New Delhi, India, this recent form suggests Mabote isn’t simply maintaining his elite status; he’s ascending to entirely new heights.

The speedster now holds world records in both the 200 m and 400 m T63 categories, a double that speaks volumes about his versatility across sprint distances. Add several African records in the long jump and you have an athlete redefining what’s possible in para-athletics.

Yet even moments of sporting immortality can carry shadows. Despite the euphoria that engulfed Coetzenburg Stadium as Mabote’s time flashed on the board, the achievement arrived with a sting of disappointment that the young champion couldn’t hide.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Mabote admitted in the aftermath. “One works so hard to push the boundaries of what’s possible, only to find out one won’t have the stage to represent your country in it at the next major games.”

What makes Mabote’s achievements even more remarkable is that he isn’t a full-time professional athlete; he’s grinding through a Business Management degree at SU, finding the balance between academics and athletics.

Commonwealth Games setback aside, the star athlete has set his sights on the European Grand Prix later this year, with the ultimate target: Los Angeles 2028.