Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 108, July 2018 | Page 34

MULTISPORT
Whether it is triathlons, trail running
or life-saving competitions, Linda
Detering has the talent and potential
to become a major force in every sport
she tries. – BY PJ MOSES
Now most people would be happy with talent in one
sport, but this 18-year-old ‘wunderkind’ decided to
give multisport a go as well, after watching some of
her friends participating in a triathlon. With the help
of Mike Reddington of the Embark Triathlon Club, she
was able to win the Freshpak Fitness Festival sprint
triathlon last September, and followed that success
by entering the IRONMAN 70.3 race in East London in
January. Surprising even herself, she finished second
in her age group, and earned herself a slot at the
70.3 World Championships to be held this coming
September in PE. “I never expected to do that well.
It was just a bucket list item that I wanted
to tick off, but naturally I am happy and
excited with how it all worked out in
the end,” says Linda.
GAME FOR ANYTHING
Born close to Munich in Germany, Linda and her
family moved to Cape Town in 2011. The eldest of
three kids, she’s always been active, with her main
sport being horse-riding when still living in Germany.
However, the warmer SA climate and the beautiful
mountains around her Hout Bay home inspired her to
try new sports, including running, cycling, swimming,
surfing, lifesaving, water-skiing, paragliding and
skydiving! “In South Africa there is just so much more
to do, and I love being outdoors. I’ve also made so
many friends doing all of these things, and nothing
beats the vibe around an active lifestyle. But I still
find time to relax as well: I love movie nights with my
family, or socialising with my friends, also reading
good books and taking my dogs for long walks.”
Unsurprisingly, trail running and triathlon are not the
only sports that Linda excels at. She is also part of
the Llandudno Lifesaving Club, and at this year’s SA
Lifesaving Champs, she won both the junior and
With that success still fresh,
Linda took on a new challenge
at the Walker Bay Extreme
Big 6 Challenge earlier this
year, where competitors had
to do six events over four
days. “It is a whole weekend
of adventure and you have to do
a mountain bike race, a swimming
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ISSUE 108 JULY 2018 / www.modernathlete.co.za
senior women’s 2km beach runs, on the same day. “It
was 500m loops on the beach and the crowd really
helped me, because the atmosphere was so fantastic.
I knew this was my last opportunity to compete in
both events, so even with little turn-around time
between races, I just gave it my all.”
INSPIRATION AT HAND
In spite of all the success Linda has enjoyed in a short
period, there have also been a few low points and
disappointments, but she stays motivated, and gets
herself race-ready, by watching one of her favourite
videos on YouTube, called Rise and Shine. “It puts
me in the right frame of mind, and if things get really
tough, I just take a deep breath and look around me.
The beauty of nature reminds me why I am doing this.
I do it because I love it, and that there’s nowhere else
I would rather be.”
With her focus currently on training for the 70.3 World
Champs, she says she knows that finding balance is of
the utmost importance, too, if you want to be at your
best. “I think there is a time and a place for everything,
and you have to get your priorities straight. You can’t
be out the whole night before a race and expect to do
well the next day. People just need to choose what is
important to them, but never forget to have fun. Do the
things you love and don’t force yourself to do anything
that you don’t want to.”
Photography
W
ith her red hair blowing in the wind and
a steely look in her eyes, Linda Detering
has in a still short sporting career proven
that she is a force to be reckoned with. Winning
has become a bit of a habit, and she has collected
a number of podiums over the course of the last
two years, including taking first place over the
short distances at the Old Mutual Two Oceans and
Volunteer Wildfire Servic