Donald Ramphadi Biography: Age, Paralympic Medal, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Career

Donald Ramphadi is a trailblazing South African wheelchair tennis player, celebrated for winning Africa’s first Paralympic wheelchair tennis medal and a French Open title.

Competing in the quad division, he has overcome significant challenges, including limited funding, to become a global inspiration and advocate for growing the sport in South Africa.

Profile

• Full Name: Donald Masimba Tingini Ramphadi
• Stage Name: Donald Ramphadi (Nickname: “Dona”)
• Born: June 10, 1993
• Age: 32 years old
• Birthplace: Mogapeng, Greater Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa
• Nationality: South African
• Occupation: South African Wheelchair Tennis Player
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Ramphadi
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Not Married
• Children: None
• Relationship: Unknown
• Net Worth: $100,000 to $5 million

Early Life and Education

Donald Ramphadi was born on June 10, 1993, in Mogapeng, a village in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality of Limpopo, South Africa. Raised by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ramphadi, he was fully able-bodied until age 12, when he developed osteogenesis imperfecta, a brittle bone disease that impaired his mobility, leading to his use of a wheelchair.

Initially a football enthusiast, he discovered wheelchair tennis in 2009 at Letaba Special School in Tzaneen, where teachers recognized his potential. He later attended Filadelfia Secondary School in Soshanguve, where his passion for tennis solidified after winning his first tournament.

Details about his formal education beyond secondary school are not publicly available. His ethnicity is South African, and he follows the Christian faith.

Career

Donald Ramphadi’s wheelchair tennis career is marked by historic achievements in the quad division. He began playing in 2009 and initially competed in the men’s wheelchair tennis division before being cleared for the quad division in 2018 due to impairments in his legs and body, including his playing arm.

His breakthrough came in 2022, when he reached the Australian Open quad doubles semifinals and climbed to a career-high world No. 5 ranking. In 2023, he made history as the first South African to win a Roland Garros title since 1981, securing the quad doubles championship with Britain’s Andy Lapthorne. That year, he also reached the Australian Open quad doubles final with Brazil’s Ymanitu Silva and the singles semifinals at both the Australian and French Opens.

At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Ramphadi and partner Lucas Sithole won Africa’s first wheelchair tennis medal, a bronze in quad doubles, defeating Brazil’s Ymanitu Silva and Leandro Pena (6-2, 4-6, 10-8). He has reached four Grand Slam singles semifinals (Australian Open and French Open, 2022–2024) and three doubles finals, with frequent partners including Lapthorne, Sithole, and Silva.

Despite challenges like competing with a secondhand wheelchair due to funding issues, Ramphadi’s aggressive, right-handed style and speed have made him a formidable competitor. He continues to compete on the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour, with recent appearances at the 2025 Australian Open, and aims to inspire more Black South Africans to take up the sport.

Awards and Nominations

• Paralympic Games, Paris 2024: Bronze Medal, Quad Doubles (with Lucas Sithole)
• French Open, 2023: Champion, Quad Doubles (with Andy Lapthorne)
• Limpopo Sport & Recreation Awards, 2021/22: Sportsman of the Year with a Disability

Ramphadi’s six titles in 2021–2022 and his historic Paralympic medal underscore his impact on wheelchair tennis.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @donaldramp

Personal Life

Donald Ramphadi, a trailblazing wheelchair tennis player, keeps his personal life private, with no public details about his marital status, relationships, or family beyond his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ramphadi. The loss of his mother during his school years profoundly impacted him, and he dedicated his 2024 Paralympic bronze medal to her memory, wishing she could have witnessed his success.

Ramphadi’s journey from viewing tennis as a “white people’s sport” to becoming a Grand Slam champion reflects his determination to break barriers. He faced significant challenges, including limited funding and reliance on a secondhand wheelchair, which forced him to retire from matches in the past.

His resilience shone through at the 2024 Paralympics, where his emotional podium moment with Lucas Sithole marked a career highlight. Ramphadi is passionate about encouraging young Black South Africans to pursue tennis and focuses on mental health to enhance his performance.

Net Worth

Donald Ramphadi, a trailblazing wheelchair tennis player, has an estimated net worth between the range of $100,000 to $5 million. His income likely comes from prize money, limited sponsorships, and occasional support from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).

He has highlighted the financial strain of funding 18–24 international trips annually, costing approximately R140,000 per trip, often relying on his prize money due to the lack of major sponsors in South African wheelchair tennis.