What began as a moment of pure joy on a school rugby field has now led to a life-changing breakthrough for Oluthando “Olu” Nkosinkulu.
News24 reports that the seven-year-old from Hankey in the Eastern Cape, who was born with one leg, has taken his first steps using a prosthetic after months of fittings, testing and rehabilitation.
Olu became an internet sensation earlier this year when footage of him scoring a try on one leg at his first-ever rugby tournament spread across social media.
That wave of support helped make his prosthetic possible, with the final fitting completed in mid-December.
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According to his mother, Natasha Nkosinkulu, the process required patience and careful planning.
“Olu has a very unique stump, so a lot of work went into finding what would work best for him,” she said. “It took time for him to get used to it, especially the knee, but he’s handling it like a champ.”
Olu now wears the prosthetic daily at school and around the house, helping his father with chores and growing more confident. For now, however, the prosthetic is not suited to sport.
“Running with it is still very difficult, so when it comes to playing, Olu still uses one leg,” his mother explained.
Olu’s dream is to one day run with a blade prosthetic, which is lighter and designed for sport. While the family has not yet secured one, they are in the process of setting up a trust to support his long-term medical needs.
Despite the challenges, Natasha says her son’s passion remains undimmed.
“His heart is still with rugby,” she said. “He wants to run – and we’ll keep doing everything we can to help him get there.”
Photo: News24/Natasha Nkosinkulu
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