Born with a rare disorder, she is proudly representing the rainbow nation in World Disability Month
Mandilené Hoffmann and her coach Daniel Damon take a break during a training session. Picture: SUPPLIED
And yet, she’s proudly representing the rainbow nation in November, World Disability Month. She’s in action at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Association Games in Portugal with the world’s leading athletes in this track and field category. “When she was eight her knees gave her problems. I’d be talking to her and the next thing she’d be on the ground as her knee collapsed. But we dealt with the situation by means of humour, and still do so till this day.”
“Hey, I just try to approach life as normally as I can,” says Hoffman. “I may have a unique syndrome and my body often doesn’t want to play ball but I’ve got so much to be thankful for. There are other people and children that have a way tougher time than me, whether they are handicapped or not. The games will see a momentum shift for Hoffmann though as due to the sheer extent of her disability after the walk from the athletes’ call centre to the throwing arena she’s exhausted before she’s even looked at the discus.
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