Sipho Mjoka's passion is swimming and the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China, have become his coming-out party. The 18-year-old from South Africa took gold in the men's 50-meter freestyle finals on Friday, 5 October, and will race again in the 100-meter free on Saturday.
Before a packed house at the Shanghai Pudong Natatorium, Mjoka brought the crowd to its feet by winning the Division 5 Finals in 29.40 seconds.
"He swam a fantastic race," says Brenda Saville, head swim coach for Special Olympics South Africa. "He's always been a coach's dream for me. He listens and then goes out and does his best. What more can a coach ask for?"
Abandoned by his mother as a child, Mjoka grew up in an orphanage in Durban, South Africa, which he still calls home. Ann Janssens, who is on the Board of Directors at the home, flew 16 hours to see her favorite student race.
"Certainly it's a long way to come," she says, "but I had to be here to see him race. Our orphanage has about 200 children and he's one of the ones you look out for and hope things work out for in the future."
Beaten as a child, Mjoka took medication that eventually caused permanent brain damage. Years later, he is still bothered by headaches and often struggles in school. Sports became his outlet and he runs as well as swims.
"Coming here, being in these Games, is more than I ever could have dreamed of," Mjoka says. "It got me out of my world." Asked if he enjoyed the Opening Ceremony, competing in a distant land, Mjoka smiles and simply says, "Yeabo" – South African lingo for yes.
