Modern Athlete Magazine November 2026 | Page 2

On the Cover Cover image courtesy of Greg Chapman- @ chappypix
CONTENTS

Modern Athlete – sports stories that inspire.

The latest issue of Modern Athlete is here! This month, we celebrate sporting success across a range of disciplines, from world-record swims and cycling milestones to the fight to get a young para-surfer onto the world stage. We also tackle two important topics for athletes: getting enough iron and staying active during pregnancy. There’ s plenty to get stuck into, so enjoy the read!
EDITORIAL
FEATURE
FEATURE

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Editorial
Chatting to elite athletes in the so-called Cinderella sports, I often hear them suggest that a lack of funding and world-class facilities in South Africa has made them tougher.
Waiting for a break
From the Cape Flats to the South African Para surfing team, Emihle Sombexe is chasing a dream that’ s now within reach, if he can just bridge the financial gap between selection and the world stage.

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Two podiums, one unforgettable world champs for the Georges
South Africa had two reasons to celebrate at the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Australia, in early October, when Michelle and David George delivered outstanding performances.
FEATURE

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Kittie’ s pulling power
From a small-town girl with big dreams to a tug-of-war powerhouse, Kittie Terblanche has no plans to loosen her grip on the sport just yet – especially with her daughter waiting in the wings.

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Fast, fearless and far from finished
Pieter Coetzé reflects on his record-breaking moment, the rise of South African swimming and the big targets that lie ahead.
Durban’ s Olympic dream lives on
Moses Mabhida Stadium could potentially feature the fastest athlete on the planet if South Africa win the right to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Caught on camera

On the Cover Cover image courtesy of Greg Chapman- @ chappypix

COLUMN
We asked some of SA’ s top athletes to scroll through their phones and send us the last photo they took.

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How three months off running fixed my running
Rory Petzer explains his deep aversion to burpees and why he might just be sporting those tight, khaki shorts this summer …
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Q & A

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Riding the family wave to a three-peat
Cape Town teenager Sam Mocke recently returned from the Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in La Vila Joiosa, Spain, with his third consecutive junior world title.
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FEATURE

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Back where it all began
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A battered Betamax videotape sparked a lifelong love of gymnastics that took Anke Badenhorst to the world stage as a judge and coach, with the next generation of her own family now following in her footsteps.
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