Special Olympics figure skater shares his journey

At just 24 years old, Kenneth Mokabo has achieved Special Olympics success, representing South Africa in China and Austria. Kenneth is soft-spoken but very direct. He is one of several athletes at Logwood Village who have competed and won medals at the Special Olympics World Games.

Kenneth started figure skating at school when he was 16 years old. “At school they had a class to teach us how to skate. Every Thursday the school bus would take us to the ice rink,” he said.

The athlete lives and works at Logwood Village in Muldersdrift, which supports adults with intellectual disabilities. Kenneth said figure skating allows him to show what he is capable of doing. “The first time I stepped onto the ice I was scared, but now I am used to the ice. It feels nice when I am skating. I enjoy the ice; playing on the ice, lying on the ice,” he smiled.

On October 21 he had his first practice session since 2019, and described being back on the ice as exciting after a tumultuous schedule caused by the pandemic. Kenneth first represented the country at the Special Olympics in China. He described the experience as nerve-wracking. “I was so nervous; there were so many people there. I ended up coming fourth. I made a lot of friends there especially the hockey players. We were staying in same place.” He shared that it wasn’t long before he warmed up to the new surroundings and fellow athletes. “They took us to restaurants and walks around the place. They showed us the tea garden.”

The Muldersdrift resident said he enjoys competing abroad because he gets to interact with different people. “I want to see and meet people from overseas. When I went to Austria I was not nervous, I was excited. The competition was very tough. When you go on the ice and you see all the people around you, you just get nervous and you forget what you are supposed to do.” He also finished fourth in Austria.

His favourite move to do is called ‘The Dip’. “You squat down but have one leg up. I haven’t mastered it yet but I am still learning how to do it. That move was not easy for me – I would try to put my leg up and I would fall.”

He said he looks up to his coach, Glenda Slabbert. “She’s always doing these tough moves, and I can’t do them. I am still working towards it.” He shared he too would like to coach in the future. With the Special Olympics, athletes are trained to coach on top of their competition training. He concluded, “I like ice skating. It’s my future.”