Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 52, November 2013 | Page 13

Feature

Despite ongoing health problems, Annie Bothma is setting
the running scene alight, including representing SA at the
World Cross Country Champs and winning two SA junior
titles on the track and road. – BY SEAN FALCONER

I

t’s been a breakthrough year for Annie Bothma. The 17-year-

Annie

?ve, losing a lot of weight and spending more than a year in hospital

old from Stellenbosch has run the fastest times in 2013 by a

if you put it together. I started running in grade seven to escape the

junior for 10km (36:35) and 15km (56:41), and she was selected

problems, and the more I ran, the more I wanted to run – and then

by Western Province to run at the SA Cross Country Champs in

I started to become good at it. I fell ill again at the World Champs

February, where she ?nished third, despite a twisted ankle, and

and didn’t do that well, but I believe that made me mentally stronger,

was selected to go to Poland for the World Champs in March. Then

which allowed me to come back and win the two SA titles.”

in April she claimed the SA Junior 5000m title on the track, despite
Annie lives with her parents and two brothers and is currently in grade

added the junior title at the SA 10km Champs. Added to that, in

11 at Bloemhof High School. Her other passion is art, and she runs

October it was con?rmed that the Newton-sponsored youngster

her own small business selling textiles and craft products to local

had retained her junior title in the Spar Women’s Series Grand Prix.

businesses. She hasn’t decided yet what she wants to do after school,
but says, “If I could, I would just run. I’m planning on taking a gap

And all this despite suffering from debilitating bouts of illness.

year after matric to see what I can do with my running, and then

“It all started when I almost died of scarlet fever when I was six.

taking it from there. I want to try qualify for the Olympic 10,000m in

Since then I have struggled with my health, especially since grade

Rio 2016, or else I am going to work for the marathon later, because
the further I go, the stronger and faster I get!”

Image: Courtesy Annie Bothma

running barefoot and severely burning her feet, and in May she

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