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Kirtsy Coventry
MY African Athlete of the week is Elliot Mujaji — a Zimbabwean Paralympian. Elliot was a member of the Zimbabwe Track and Field team for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. However, he was unable to compete and spent two months in a coma after suffering a terrible electrical accident at work that same year.

This left him paralysed and resulted in him losing an arm.

He, however, did not let the disability dampen his dream of competing at the highest stage in his sporting career.

Two years after suffering the life-threatening injury, Elliot completed his recovery by winning a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games in the 100m sprint.

He then continued to repeat his heroics at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens where he won gold in the same event. From here, Elliot went on to represent Zimbabwe at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics Games in Beijing and London, respectively. Elliot, who is now 41, has turned his energy, together with wisdom and experience, to help train and develop younger athletes.

I admire how Elliot has gone from competing to coaching; his love for sport will be passed onto others. My friend, you are an inspiration and example of true determination; thank you.