By Michael Uugwanga
Despite becoming one of Namibia’s most successful Paralympic athletes, gold medallist Lahja Ishitile says she never liked sport and initially dreamed of building a career outside athletics.
Ishitile won gold in the 400m T11 and bronze in the 200m T11 at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, after previously winning silver at the 2023 World Championships.
She competes with guide Sem Shimanda.
However, the 29-year-old says athletics was never part of her original plans.
“I never liked sport in the first place, but because at Eluwa you have no other choice but to do sport there. I wanted to have a good job. I did not want to do sport management course at all,” Ishitile told Confidente.
Born in Outapi and raised in Okapanda, Omusati region, Ishitile began losing her eyesight at seven due to a medical condition and was completely blind by 11.
At 10, she enrolled at Eluwa Special School in Ongwediva, where she was introduced to sport and running.
She went on to represent Namibia internationally, winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games and later becoming a Paralympic champion.
Her twin sister, Wilka, is a teacher at Rukonga Vision School in Kavango East Region.
Ishitile is now in her final year studying Information Science at the University of Namibia.
Although she missed the recently held Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after failing to qualify, she remains grateful for the role sport has played in her life.
“I have no regret for taking sport because it has changed my life and made me who I am today. I do train some days, but for now I am focusing on my studies as I am in my final year,” she said.
