FEATURE

By Mark Etheridge

It’ s a brand-new year and so we asked some of South Africa’ s top athletes about their goals and hopes for 2026 …

GLENROSE XABA

Every year I pray that God helps me through every step and that I have a healthy year ahead and not get injured.

I also hope to stay disciplined and focused and on top of things and breaking more records – but most of all just for a great season overall.

I also look back at the previous year and hope for more of the same good things.

The New Year’ s resolution I set every year is one to simply be a better person and to better my performance as a sportsperson. I reflect on which aspects of my game I can improve on … putting it in perspective, I have certain targets I want to reach that are measurable. In terms of my personal life, being a religious person, to grow within my Christianity everywhere.

TYLER LANGE

( 2025 Cape Town Cycle Tour champion)

For me, one of my mine is to maybe up my gym hours, I really don’ t like working out indoors but I want to do more gym and stretching work – and I also want to improve my padel game, it’ s such a growing sport and I absolutely love it because there’ s more of a social aspect to it and less serious for me.

ZAKITHI NENE

( 4x400m World Championships bronze medallist)

I think the one I have is I’ d like to limit my takeouts. I literally have takeouts every other day of the week. I also have reduced screen time by reading more on my list as well.

KENNEDY SEKHUTHE

( 2025 winner of the Ultra-Trail Drakensberg 100-miler)

This year’ s resolution is that I must go to Magoebaskloof to prepare to defend my UTD title … I’ m also going to run Comrades as preparation for a big race in Germany and then another 100-miler in Botswana, then Sky Run and then UTCT in Cape Town, hopefully all without any injury and health problems.

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