WELCOME
A LITTLE BIT OF everything
Since our relaunch a couple of months ago, we promised a wide variety of inspiring sports stories, and this month I think we’ ve really delivered. From athletics, swimming, mountain biking and cricket to netball, skiing and even sheep shearing, there’ s something for everyone.
April is always one of my favourite times of the year, with a stack of national championships on the calendar. I’ ll be heading to Gqeberha for the SA National Swimming Championships, which unfortunately clash with the National Athletics Championships in Stellenbosch, but I’ ll be keeping a close eye on proceedings there from a few hours down the N2.
This is when a lot of sports’ seasons start to take shape. We begin to see who’ s finding some form, who’ s building momentum, and which athletes are putting their hands up ahead of the international season, not to mention those looking to lock in qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year.
It’ s also when comeback stories start to gather pace, which brings us to this month’ s cover star, Lara van Niekerk. Still just 22, the Pretoria swimmer has ridden a rollercoaster of note in recent years and now looks to be finding her best form again. You can dive into her story, along with that of Gift Leotlela, who is a little further along his own comeback journey, having reached the 100m final at last year’ s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Elsewhere, we feature the incredible Mhlengi Gwala and Rudi Joubert, two amputee athletes who took on the brutal ABSA Cape Epic, while the queen of the road, Gerda Steyn, shares top tips ahead of the Totalsports Two Oceans. You can also get to know SA cricket’ s latest star, Kayla Reyneke, and the new CEO of Netball South Africa, Adam Brooke.
Our regular columnists are back with top-tier nutrition advice, workout inspiration and a timely reminder about gratitude. And don’ t miss leading sports psychologist Dr Koketjo Tsebe’ s practical advice on managing prerace nerves.
There’ s also a brand-new event to get excited about: the Simbine Classic, South Africa’ s first World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet, coming to a stadium near you. All the details are on pages 6 – 7.
And speaking of big occasions, did you see those crowds at the inaugural LIV Golf event at Steyn City in Joburg? Wild. Whether you’ re sold on the concept or not, there’ s no denying its popularity, with around 100,000 fans reportedly turning up to be part of the spectacle. Check out some of the best pics from the event on page 21.
So, whatever your sport of choice, we hope you enjoy the read …
Until next month,
Karien Jonckheere karien @ modernathlete. co. za
4 www. modernathlete. co. za