FEATURE
blown to pieces when her back tyre blew out.
Despite seeing her medal chances blow away too, Candice kept going, running to the nearest tech zone and still finishing 20th overall.
“ The thing that I was most proud of was the fact that I didn ' t just throw my bike aside and leave it and go home. My whole family was watching, including all my cousins, and at that moment, I knew other families and kids were watching. I thought to myself that it says more about your character and the bigger picture if you are prepared to carry on, no matter what, even if you ' re not getting the result that you want. And that was what my Olympic experience was really about.
The support structure that Candice has, both from her family and her husband Darren Lill, a former mountain bike racer, is a big part of what keeps Candice grounded and has also allowed her to follow her dream and put everything she has into it. The dream finally became a reality when she ended the 2024 season ranked second in the world. An incredible achievement in itself, after six hard years, Candice had finally pushed into the top ranks, and just before the 2025 season started, the ultimate news hit South African shores: Candice was now ranked number one in the world.
Bringing added pressure on Candice with the world now watching her, she found it stressful, she found herself being asked just to be Candice, the same Candice she had always been,“ I just wanted to keep riding my bike, and to keep enjoying it, to just stay in the moment, and trust the process,” said Candice. Even with the added pressure, she continued on the path she knew was right for her. Nowhere was this more apparent than when she announced she would continue racing as a privateer and not join one of the professional teams, even though there were many offers on the table.
“ It was a hard decision to make, but you have to weigh up all the pros and cons. I know where I ' ve come from and what we ' ve worked so hard to build. Giving all that up for a contract that may only last two years, when you don’ t know where your future will go, wasn’ t right for Darren and me. I felt like after so many years of building relationships with personal sponsors, it was not worth letting those go for something that might seem like an easier option, or less stressful,” said Candice.
Having her husband Darren with her means that instead of spending months apart, they can be together, working towards a dream that both are invested in. This was also a factor in the choice to remain a privateer, but having your husband as your manager also can’ t be easy.
“ There are pinch points where things are stressful, but we have learned to be good at communication, as well as to give each other space. November is our favourite time of year; we can both switch off and be husband and wife, instead of athlete and manager. We have both learned that when it’ s business, we need to be in a business mode and mind, and not take it personally. While many think it’ s the best thing in the world, it can also be very hard on both us and the marriage, but there is something special about building this together.”
It ' s been a long road for them, but they are now truly reaping the benefits of the long hours and commitment both have put into making this the success it is. When asked what she would tell herself in 2009 at the start of her journey, Candice’ s answer speaks to what we should all aspire to.“ I think what’ s important is taking the things that you learn while facing so many fears and doubts and overcoming them, while always staying true to who you are. I think Candice, back in 2009, would be surprised at what we have achieved, but also proud of how far we’ ve come. It has been quite the journey, and we are only getting started.
To watch the full interview with Candice, click on the video in the box below
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