Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 60, July 2014 | Page 29

In terms of training, Zavion is currently
working on his fitness and form seven days
a week, putting in an average of six hours
per day. “When you do decathlon, there
isn’t really a rest day,” he says. That sees
him juggling not only his training with his
wedding and events business, but also the
lectures he gives in the evening for the
SA School of Weddings. Thus he starts a
typical morning with either a run or a gym
session, where he does Olympic powerlifting to improve his explosive power, then
at midday he does technique sessions,
which is either one of the throwing
disciplines, hurdles or long jump. “I then
tackle the pole vaulting in the afternoon, as
this is the hardest event of them all and it
is said that it takes seven years to master.”

IN THE GENES

It is no surprise that Zavion is such a
competitive and dedicated athlete, as

Passionate about his work.

Images: Patrick Furter Photography (wedding
photo), Driaan Claassen (header) & courtesy
Survivor SA : Champions & Zavion Kotze

years is to qualify to compete at the 2016
Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil. “The athlete
who wins the decathlon at the Olympics
is said to be the ultimate athlete and wins
the Victor ludorum of the entire Games.
This is a massive dream of mine,” says
Zavion. As part of his build-up to Rio, he
will be competing in as many events as
he can at the Gay Olympics in Cleveland,
USA in August, and is so far the only
African athlete competing. “I have had an
unlucky two years with a hamstring injury,
but I am back and ready to compete, and
am planning to bring back as many gold
medals as I can!”

both his parents earned SA colours in their
younger days. “My dad was a Springbok
athlete and my mom was a Springbok in
netball and korfbal. I come from a very
competitive family, with five siblings, but it
was my older brother, Izander, who really
in