Hilma Nalupe

Prince Mckay was born and raised in the coastal town of Lüderitz, where he spent most of his childhood and teenage years.

From an early age, Mckay was always active, running, climbing, jumping, and working at heights. When he reached high school, one of his teachers at Angra Pequena Senior Secondary School, Charlene van Wyk, noticed his natural spring and encouraged him to try track and field athletics.

“I tried high jump at a school sports day, and I was hooked by the unique challenge of combining speed, technique, and airtime,” Mckay recalled.

According to him, the high jump immediately caught his attention because it looked like flying. After clearing a modest height using basic technique, he knew he wanted to learn more and improve.

McKay’s first major milestone in the discipline came when he won first place at a zonal competition while still in high school. “When I received the gold medal, I experienced mixed emotions, but mostly relief, joy, and validation. It showed me that the hard work I put into training could translate when it mattered most. I now have four medals,” said Mckay.

He realised that high jump was more than just a hobby when he began organising his life around training, sacrificing social outings, prioritising his daily schedule, and constantly studying technique videos on YouTube.

His desire to compete at higher levels and test how far he could go confirmed that the sport was his passion, not a pastime. “I started investing in my dream by buying the basic tools to help me improve,” he added.

Mckay’s proudest moment came last year when he qualified for the National Championships in Windhoek, where he stood among the country’s top jumpers while representing his region. It was a dream, he says, realised through years of dedication.

He describes the 2025 season as one of his toughest, as he was recovering from an ankle injury sustained on the basketball court. His technique faltered, and for several weeks, he struggled to reach his previous heights.

The experience taught him resilience, learning to trust the process, listen to his body, and strengthen his mental game as much as his physical ability.

Outside of athletics, Mckay is preparing to attend the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) to study welding, having completed his grade 11 studies last year. He enjoys listening to music, playing the keyboard, attending church, and playing basketball.

He says his family has been incredibly supportive of his journey, always assisting with finances, equipment, and ensuring he gets enough rest.

“Their belief in me, especially after several setbacks, gives me strength and perspective,” he said.

High jump has taught Mckay that progress is not always linear. Some days bring improvement, while others involve repeated failures at the same height. 

The sport has instilled in him patience, self-analysis, the courage to try again, and a sense of the value of incremental growth. Lessons he believes apply to education, work, and personal challenges.

Looking ahead, Mckay hopes to compete at the World Championships and Olympic Games, and to set a new senior national record. Ultimately, he aims to inspire the next generation of high jumpers in Namibia. 

-hnalupe@nepc.com.na