Olympic gold medallist Ananias Shikongo has called for the recognition and proper training of guide runners. Track and field athletes with severe visual impairment generally compete with guides, who keep them informed of potential obstacles and play an important role in the successful completion of any athletics event. Ananias Shikongo, who recently made his mark at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro is classified as a T11 athlete, meaning that he is completely blind athlete who cannot run without a guide. He says all his achievements would have been impossible without his guides Even Tjiviju for the 200 metres and Sam Shimanda in 400 metre races. ” My guide is my eyes always. Even when I’m walking from here to the shop I have to walk with someone when winning those medals I win it the guides” he stressed. There are currently no proper guidelines in place, that indicate who is responsible to reward guides for their work. Shikongo says he and the Tjiuijuare brothers will never leave each other behind. There is no jealousy and Tjiviju always pushes him to achieve his goals. “What I’m getting I have to make sure , if I get ten dollars I have to give something to my guide to appreciate what he did for me. I’m happy for what I did with my guide’ added Shikongo Even Tjiviju, who has been running with Shikongo for the past seven years, says it’s high time the authorities recognise their role and reward them accordingly. The 200m sprinter explains that he is appreciative of Shikongo’s efforts to share his prize money with him, but feels it is not Shikongo’s responsibility to reward him. The secretary general of Paralympics Namibia and national coach Michael Hamukwaya, who accompanied the team to Rio, confirmed that there are currently no structures in place which cater for runner guides. He said there are no fulltime guides as they are only accompanying the athletes to competitions, but that it is something that the management will have to look into in the near future.