PEOPLE » WHO INSPIRE
Yes. I always had the plan to
start running on the blade. So
this injury has now just forced
me to do that.
Incredible… after just
six weeks of training on
a blade, using totally
different muscle groups to
what you did when using
crutches, you feel you
would be ready for both a
half and an ultra marathon?
Yes, I did 10km in 01:30
yesterday as a first attempt.
My goal would be to do a fast
walk of maybe 02:15 for the
IRONMAN half marathon.
As I said I am a triathlete and
I want to compete, so I will
just do it.
Ahead of the IRONMAN
African Championship
you told me you had
reservations about the
swim, especially if the sea
was going to be rough. It
was a proper rough sea
that you faced out there.
Where you nervous? Yes, I
was nervous before, but now
I want a rough sea. I want the
full experience, and the rough
sea is sometimes part of it and
you must just take that on. If
you are afraid of something
you just need to take it on and
overcome it, otherwise it will
always have power over you.
126
“IT MAKES ME HAPPY TO
KNOW THAT PEOPLE ENJOY
MY STORY AND THAT THEY
ARE INSPIRED BY IT”
It did help that they made the
swim shorter, but I don’t care,
now I am no longer scared of
rough seas, I like it. Also, I look
forward to the warm water of
Durban. Port Elizabeth was
too cold for me!
Tell us about the race? It
was so incredible and the
people were very supportive
and cheering for me. The
swim was rough, but I wasn’t
too nervous as there were a lot
of safety boats around. When
I fell in transition I immediately
knew something was wrong
and it was very sore. But
this is an IRONMAN, you are
supposed to push through
even when it hurts. I lost quite
a bit of time as a result of the
fall and would otherwise at
least have been able to have
made the cut-off time on the
bike. Running is actually my
strongest discipline and I was
looking forward to the 42.2km.
I’m sure that I would’ve been
able to finish in time if it wasn’t
for my fall.
Xolani, don’t you feel
somewhat disappointed
with what happened in PE?
No, not at all. I don’t feel any
disappointment. Even when
my friends ask me, I just say,
‘What was the race’s name?’.
It was the IRONMAN African
Championship. This is not a
small race. It is supposed to
be tough. I’m even proud to
say that I broke my hand at
such a big race. I didn’t break
it walking at home, I broke it at
IRONMAN. This wasn’t a small
race, and it just motivates
me more and helps me focus
on my goals. In fact I’m even
happy I broke it.
You are happy you broke
your hand? The one on
which you have to rely so
much when on crutches?
Xolani, you are becoming
pretty famous now, with
so much coverage. How
does it feel? It feels so nice,
it just motivates me. When I
saw my story in the IRONMAN
magazine it made me feel so
proud and it just helps me
to keep moving. I love it. It
makes me happy to know that
people enjoy my story and
that they are inspired by it. A
lot of athletes have come up
to me and told me that I am
the reason why they are doing
certain races that they’ve
never attempted before. It is
great to hear those stories. I
also like to inspire others to
take up the sport, especially
among the black community.
We know you love to share
your story and inspire
others, where can people
get hold of you? I have also
done lots of talks at schools,
sports clubs and businesses.
I am glad if people are
inspired by my story and if
I can share some of my life
lessons with them. I often talk
with my father, Hein Venter.
We are a good team. People
can contact us through my
Facebook page, which is
Xolani Luvuno Amputee
Athlete.
After the interview I was
reminded of the slogan I once
saw on a T-shirt: “Winners
train, losers complain”. Xolani
had every reason to take a
step back after his fall and
let a negative attitude creep
in, however his passion and
drive is so incredible that
he immediately got on with
things, adapted, and turned
his misfortune into a positive.
If you do spot Xolani and Hein
in Durban, be sure to offer
them a cheer and a high five!