Paralympian Tezna Abrahams on overcoming injury and her rapid rise to the top

Tezna Abrahams has been an athlete her entire life. Her career has seen a remarkable evolution, from breaking multiple South African swimming records to transitioning into a track star. Most recently, she represented South Africa at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where she set a new African record in the T44 long jump.

However, the Paralympian faced a significant setback after suffering an injury at the end of 2025. Speaking to Eyewitness News, Abrahams opened up about the gruelling road to recovery, the process of rebuilding, and her outlook for the season ahead.

“That year was definitely one of the toughest mental challenges I’ve faced,” Abrahams admitted. “As athletes, we’re used to constantly pushing ourselves and focusing on performance. When you’re injured, that mindset has to change. Suddenly, the focus shifts from competing and improving times or distances to healing and rebuilding your body.”

During her rehabilitation, Abrahams had to reframe her perspective on rest. She noted that taking the time to heal properly was essential to avoid future setbacks and return stronger. The pause allowed her to reflect, reset her goals, and focus on her long-term career vision.

The injury forced Abrahams to pay attention to often-overlooked physical details, such as stabilising muscles and movement patterns crucial for elite performance.

“While it’s always tempting to rush back, I learned that sometimes our bodies force us to stop, reset, and figure out what truly works,” she said. “Every setback is a stepping stone to something better. Taking the time to heal, to rebuild, and to use the right tools has ultimately made me a stronger, smarter athlete, physically and mentally.”

Abrahams competes in the T44 category. She was born with Ectrodactyly, also known as split hand/foot malformation (SHFM)—a rare genetic condition where one or more middle fingers or toes are missing or malformed. And has a lower leg impairment, which caused drop foot. 

For Abrahams, sport has been a masterclass in resilience and patience. She highlighted the unique challenges faced by para-athletes, ranging from specialised equipment needs to financial support.

“High-performance sport is a long journey, and progress doesn’t always happen in a straight line,” she explained. “I’ve learned the importance of staying grounded, focusing on doing your best each day, and celebrating small steps of improvement rather than chasing perfection.”

Beyond her personal results, Abrahams finds purpose in representation. She hopes her journey shows younger athletes that success is possible regardless of their circumstances.

Abrahams' rise in athletics has been nothing short of meteoric. A four-time African record holder in the long jump, she also specialises in the 100m and 200m sprints. Her accolades include:

2x SA Champion: 200m (2023, 2024)

1x SA Champion: Long Jump (2023)

1x SA Champion: 100m (2024)

Interestingly, her track career began almost by accident. After competing as an elite swimmer from 2008 to 2016, she took a break from professional sports. In January 2023, she took up track and field simply to stay fit.

By March 2023, she was a national champion. By the end of that year, she had placed 8th in the World Championship long jump final, eventually punching her ticket to the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

“It has truly been a whirlwind journey in a very short period of time,” Abrahams said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the trajectory that the sport has taken me on so far.”