By Michael Uugwanga

PARALYMPIC Gold medalist winner, Johanna Benson says that she is looking at starting her own athletic academy in the near future. 
Benson (35) won a gold medal at the 2012 London Games in the T37 200m heat, becoming also the first athlete in Namibia to win a gold medal at any Olympic Games, be able-bodied or paralympic.
Besides the gold in the 200m, she also won a silver medal at the same event in the T37 100m heat.
The success in London saw her rewarded with a house and street naming in her beloved town of Walvis Bay, plus a diplomatic passport.
Benson is currently preparing for the Para-World Championships slated for 23 September to 05 October in India and for the upcoming national senior championship in Windhoek, this weekend.
“I am very much still active, just preparing myself for the senior nationals that will be held in Windhoek this coming weekend. There is also the world championship in September in New Delhi, which will be very important for me. Training is going well. I am currently working at Hangana Seafood working as an assistant Human Resource.
“I do not have it yet (athletic academy), but have it in mind. The name will be Boccia Athletic Academy, which is of course for upcoming para-athletes and that, will be after my retirement. I am still active and only once my body calls it a day that is when I will be retiring,” said Benson.
Benson, who has over the past few years lost her golden  girl title  to the 2020 Olympians, Christine Mboma and Beatrice  Masilingi, said she still remains the country’s golden girl.
Mboma won a silver medal in the women’s 200m, while Masilingi came sixth at the same competition.
She also said that the country has lots of Bensons out there if they are well natured and discovered.
“I am the first  Golden girl. There are  a lot of good para-athletes in the southern and northern regions, but the only problem is that Namibian sport people do not  seen them whenever we have regional or national competitions (para-sport),” said Benson.