WELCOME
Bringing in a new era
Losing someone who has been a big part of where we are today was never going to be easy , saying goodbye to Sean after a decade of him steering the ship was hard . While we at Modern Athlete only wish him the best , wherever the road takes him , we cannot deny the massive void that has been left with his departure .
Sean came to us in April last year with his desire to move on to new things , and like any separation , it took many months to get there . All of us at Modern Athlete would like to take the opportunity to thank Sean , not only for his unwavering commitment to the magazine and you , our audience , but also for what he has done to make us the brand we are today .
It took a lot from all of us when we took over the business in 2019 , from surviving the pandemic to building something new and dynamic , especially as everything is increasingly ruled by the digital landscape . As a team we have created something truly special and while Sean leaving will leave a void , with any change comes the chance for new opportunities and a new direction .
“ In any given moment we have two options : to step forward into growth or step back into safety .” — Abraham Maslow
We have taken a massive step forward and moved to something new , and while the risk is that some of our loyal readers will think we may be missing the mark , we are confident that where we are moving to is something special and where we want our brand to be .
The magazine has always been about inspiring you as the reader , and the features we have worked on bringing you , do just that . From Toni Cavanagh ’ s story of how she is navigating living with a crippling disease but still running and loving it , to Erin Lazarus losing her leg at 23 and discovering a passion for running because of her blade called Stompy . It is these stories that make us who we are and why we ultimately do what we do .
You will also notice that we haven ’ t yet appointed a new editor . This is not something that we feel the need to rush into , nor are we sure that it will be the ultimate direction we move to . The important thing for us is that we are a team , and the team is dedicated to bringing something special to the sporting market .
It has also allowed us to really diversify what we can bring to the table , as many different views can ultimately result in something special where everyone can find their space . Cian Oldknow has been given the opportunity to tell her story and bring insight into her life as an elite athlete . Rory Petzer is also spreading his good vibes with a monthly column talking all about what he loves , his runner ’ s journey - yes you will see his Comrades Medal , that thing he shows but doesn ’ t ‘ talk ’ about .
We love a great debate , and are all about tackling the tough ones , the ones that really get people talking , like you are only a real runner if you run Comrades ? We have been to many functions where this is literally taken as gospel , do we think so ? You will have to read how running greats Ashraf Orrie , Mr O and Dennis Rehbock take on the topic , will it change your mind ? We will wait and see .
So for now , while we were very quiet in January , we are back with a bang , and it ’ s all to make you the reader excited . So come with us on this journey , we can ’ t wait to have you on board .
The MA team
4 ISSUE 176 | www . modernathlete . co . za