Kgothatso Montjane’s Paralympic dream shattered as personal tragedy forces her exit

Kgothatso Montjane of South Africa plays a backhand against Lucy Shuker of Great Britain in the Ladies' Wheelchair singles first round match during day ten of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England. on 10 July 2024. (Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images)

By Yanga Sibembe

4 Sep 2024

Kgothatso Montjane put her mental wellbeing before one of the prizes she’s coveted since becoming one of Africa’s premier tennis players – a Paralympic medal.

She’s one of South Africa’s greatest tennis stars, a three-time Grand Slam winner and inspiration to a number of budding athletes. Having faced a multitude of challenges during her rise to global stardom, wheelchair tennis player Kgothatso Montjane is experiencing her most difficult period to date.

In July 2024 Montjane boosted her already impressive reputation as she and her playing partner – Yui Kamiji of Japan – defeated favourites Diede de Groot and Jiske Griffioen in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) to win the Wimbledon women’s wheelchair doubles title.

That was the third doubles title the duo has won at a Grand Slam, adding to the pair’s French Open and US Open victories in 2023. It was on the back of this success that Montjane was hoping that she’d finally have a Paralympic Games to remember.

Montjane, who is a late bloomer having picked up a tennis racquet for the first time aged 19 years old, was hoping that her fifth Paralympic appearance would finally see her finish on the podium. In the four previous appearances that she made at the quadrennial sports spectacle, the 39-year-old could not make it past the quarterfinal stage.

“Going to the Paralympics with this win is such a great motivation. It is exactly what I needed before the Games. It is such a great morale booster,” said Montjane following her and Kamiji’s Wimbledon win.

“Looking at my performance in the past two weeks on grass, I am really happy with it. I feel like this is what I needed, and I can carry this feeling and motivation into the Paralympics. This victory ensures that the legacy of wheelchair tennis endures,” she stated, fancying her odds on clay in Paris.

Tragedy strikes

However, just a fortnight after this impressive feat and the optimism it birthed for Montjane’s Games medal dreams, the Limpopo-born athlete’s world was flung into turmoil. Her mother Margaret Montjane was admitted to hospital with kidney complications, to which she succumbed a couple of days later in Polokwane.

Despite her world being flipped 180 degrees in a matter of weeks, Montjane held on to her Paralympic dream and jetted off to Paris with her South African teammates – where she was one of South Africa’s realistic medal contenders.

The journey to a potential podium began positively enough for Montjane as she and compatriot Mariska Venter claimed victory in their first-round doubles encounter at Roland Garros, beating the French pair of Charlotte Fairbank and Emmanuelle Mörch 4-6, 6-1 and 10-4.

On the back of that victory, Montjane was poised to kickstart her individual campaign against China’s Luoyao Guo.

However, hours later, Montjane (who was born with a congenital defect and had her left leg amputated below the knee before she was even a teenager) had pulled out of the Paralympics.

Difficult decision

“It is with deep regret that we announce that Kgothatso “KG” Montjane, South Africa’s celebrated Wimbledon doubles wheelchair tennis champion, has made the difficult decision to retire from the Paris Paralympics 2024,” a statement from her management team said.

The statement said Montjane had been struggling mentally since the death of mother, and while she had tried to be strong and not sacrifice her Paralympic participation, eventually she had to choose her mental wellbeing.

“The emotional impact of this loss has been profound and KG is struggling to recover mentally. Her mental health and wellbeing are our utmost priority and she must take the necessary time to undergo proper recovery,” the statement read.

Kgothatso Montjane of South Africa plays a backhand against Lucy Shuker of Great Britain in the Ladies' Wheelchair singles first round match during day 10 at Wimbledon on 10 July 2024. (Photo: Francois Nel / Getty Images)

Montjane herself – who is based in Gauteng – said the decision to walk away from the Games was “one of the most difficult decisions” she has ever had to make. Regardless, she was confident that it was the right one.

“My mother’s passing has left me with an immense void and I need time to heal mentally,” Montjane said. “I am grateful for the support I've received from everyone and promise to return stronger and more determined than ever.”

Although the Olympics can sometimes strengthen the notion that age is just a number, Montjane’s chances of attending her sixth Games in 2028 are slim. She will be 43 by that time.

This fact no doubt played on the tennis ace’s mind numerous times before she made her decision.

In the likely event that Montjane retires without a Paralympic medal, her legacy will remain sturdy. For almost two decades, she has continuously flown the South African high and shattered a number of boundaries along the way.

When she has fully healed, she will be hungry for another accolade that has proven as elusive as a Paralympic medal – a singles Grand Slam. DM

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South Africa

Tragedy strikes

Difficult decision