Talented Gift shines in athletics
He said he wants to be an inspiration to young, aspiring Paralympians.
A 14-year-old Tembisa lad with a disability is shining in sport.
Despite a difficulty in his mobility, Gift Shiburi participates in various sporting codes like discus, shot put, javelin and wheelchair basketball.
The grade 7 Muriel Brand School learner had the opportunity to represent Gauteng in the Netbank National Championships in the Free State.
The championships took place in March earlier this year.
In those athletics games, Gift attained a gold medal for javelin, a silver medal for discus and a gold medal for shot put.
He said he was also awarded the Sportsman of the Year 2015 Award at his school’s prizegiving.
“I love athletics and sport in general, I don’t have one particular sporting code that I love more that the other,” said Gift.
He said he started participating in sport when he was in grade 1.
“When I started out in sport I was only doing it because it was compulsory in the school’s curriculum. In grade five I started falling in love with athletics,” said Gift.
He said he always wanted to qualify for the Gauteng team and he finally made it.
“From all this I have learnt that hard work pays off, hence I put a lot of effort into what I do. I want to see myself playing internationally in the Paralympic Games and breaking world records,” said Gift.
He said he wants to be an inspiration to young, aspiring Paralympians.
To qualify for the nationals, Gift had to undergo trials and be in the top three which he managed to accomplish.
“Playing in the nationals is different from being in the development teams. After getting the opportunity I was scared but my teachers used to encourage me by helping me to calm down and assuring me that I could do it. Now they are all proud,” said Gift.
Through sport the young man got to travel extensively and he said sport made him focus on the brighter side of life.
“Youngsters these days get up to bad things like substance abuse and sports can save them,” Gift said.
He said he is proud that sport has boosted his confidence as a person with a disability.
“Most people with disability are not confident enough and they limit themselves and yet sport is for everyone,” he said.
He said his granny, Ms Claudia Zwane, is the most amazing person who encourages him to shine.
“I want to thank my mother and sister who are also very supportive,” said Gift.
Gift is looking forward to shining in the South African Athletics’s trials, which will be held in Germiston during October.
