INSPIRATION
STEPPING UP: TYRONE PILLAY, SOUTH AFRICAN PARALYMPIAN
Winner of the 2014 KZN Sports Personality of the Year and KZN Sportsman of the Year, Tyrone’s been doing the impossible for most of his 37- year life. Born without a left leg, he fi rst had to overcome a deep-rooted complex about being diff erently-abled.
“Kids at school can be cruel and they used to call me names like ‘freak’, ‘pirate’ and ‘wooden stick’, but I used sport to show that I can do anything I set my mind to,” he says. “I played cricket, volleyball and other sports, but decided to take athletics to the next level. I represented SA at the Paralympics and have brought home gold, silver and bronze medals in shotput and discus,” says the Toyota SA employee. As a six-year-old, Tyrone used to
envisage himself as an athlete by using a can of deodorant as a relay baton. Now he has his sights set on greater goals. “I’d like to retire after the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and then concentrate on giving back to those who need it most, but behind the scenes” he says. “I’m doing my best to start a national cricket team for diff erently-abled individuals. As things stand, this team is only for those who are visually impaired. “I also want to continue with my foundation, Step Up 500, which is named for the challenge I set myself to climb the 500 steps on the Moses Mabhida Stadium’s arch, despite my
fear of heights and using my prosthetic leg. It benefi ts Jumping Kids, an organisation that makes prosthetic
legs for children, and the Cansa Care Home. My dad, who was a real hero, succumbed to cancer.”
I’M POSSIBLE
YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE CONTINENT ARE PROVING THAT IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO “START YOUR IMPOSSIBLE”!
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WORDS: THAMSANQA MAHLANGU. ILLUSTRATIONS: SENZO BHENGU & TSHOLO MAHLATSI
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