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varsity , including netball , athletics , swimming , karate and volleyball , but helped her to land a job as a sports presenter on TV . She actually began her working career in the corporate world at Investec Private Banking and initially had no plans to pursue sports journalism . “ I loved my job , but while I was there I started volunteering for an NGO , and one night I went out for volunteer work and met the editor for eNCA . We spoke about sport and he mentioned that the eNews channel was looking for sports news anchors .”
TV personality and businesswoman Stacey Holland has used endurance sports to overcome a long-term back injury , and this year will see her taking on more cycling and triathlon events as she challenges herself to achieve new fitness goals . – BY RACHEL PIENAAR
This is set to be a big sporting year for sports presenter Stacey Holland . Although she missed the early part of the triathlon season due to an extended holiday in Europe , and her plans to ride the Cape Town Cycle Tour were literally blown away by the south-easter , she has the L ’ etape160km Cycle Challenge coming up in April . After that , she plans to tick off a few more triathlons , including the Warm Water Weekend in the Western Cape and the MiWay Durban Ultra .
In 2014 Stacey accepted the challenge to ride her first 947 Cycle Tour in Johannesburg , and she says , “ I had never done anything that required me to be on the bike four or five hours . It required a big mindset change !” Then in 2015 she stepped up to triathlons , and by 2016 she was ready to take on longer events , including the MiWay Midlands Ultra in KZN . That has seen various people challenge her to take on still longer events , but Stacey says she is taking things in her own stride .
FUTURE SPORTS GOALS
“ I get a lot of people saying get a full Ironman under your belt , but I am not ever persuaded by populist ideas when it comes to sport . Right now my mind is just focussed on the L ’ etape , and I still want to focus on the shorter distances in running , cycling and triathlon . Some time in the future I may do Ironman , or take on a CrossFit Challenge , or run the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon when I am 50 … but that will all happen once I feel comfortable with more distance , and once I am a fully injury-free athlete again .”
The pain stems from a car accident while she was at varsity , which left her with two cracked vertebrae , forcing her to take an extended break from sport due the constant dull aching pain in her back . “ I should have worked really hard on my rehabilitation after the accident but I was ignorant to it because the specialist had only recommended about two sessions with a physiotherapist ,” says Stacey , adding that it is now 10 years later and only now is she beginning to feel painfree and stronger , thanks to all her sports training . “ The last couple of years have just been learning how to actually recover from that accident properly .”
SPORTING LIFESTYLE
Stacey has always had a passion for sport . That saw her not only participate in various sports at school and
“ I had never done anything that required me to be on the bike four or five hours . It required a big mindset change !”
After a nerve-wracking screen test with well-known journalist Debora Patta , Stacey landed the job as a sports anchor and went on to carve out a successful career as a presenter , MC and public figure . Later she married pro golfer Warren Holland , and together they also run a golf marketing company , Kairos Golf . Understandably , Stacey says it requires a balancing act to fit everything in , including work , training and time with Warren and others : “ I feel that if your life is synergistically aligned , it is easier to balance work in media , and if the media work is in line with health and wellness and fitness , then your training is a natural progression . Also , my husband and I work in sports , so it ’ s part of our life . If anything , I have decided that 2017 will be the year to spend more time with family and friends , so I will be focussing on that this year .”
HIGHEST MOTIVATION
Also fitted in her schedule is charitable work , with Stacey using her position as a media personality to help people and give back to communities . “ It hits close to home because I have a younger sister who is disabled and has special needs , and I ’ ve always wanted to give her my abilities . I just remember thinking that I am really blessed … as much as I have injuries , or don ’ t feel like doing something , I always say that my worst days would still be her best days . The fact that I have this body and I ’ m blessed to be able to use it , is what drives me to take part in these events .”
Images : Courtesy Stacey Holland
44 ISSUE 94 MAY 2017 / www . modernathlete . co . za