Deaf swimmer thrives against odds

An energetic 11-year-old girl, Mmakgosi is brimming with confidence and on her first encounter, one would not believe that she has severe-to-profound hearing loss, which means she is deaf. Her mother, Wame Tlhakanelo told MmegiSport that her daughter is a special child and does not allow anything to stand in her way.

“When you see her in the swimming pool, her dives being at par with kids with normal hearing, you will not believe that she did not even hear the starting gun go off for a swimming heat to commence,” said the proud mother. Born 11 years ago in Francistown, Mmakgosi was a little girl who reached all her baby milestones well. Wame said her daughter has always loved water, she used to love jumping into swimming pools with no fear even at one-year-old and they had to keep an eye on her always.