MY PASSION
In 2013 I was introduced by a friend who was at that time representing South Africa in para-cycling. After starting to compete in races at local level those around me saw my passion and potential and encouraged me to consider competing at national level but I needed a competitive tricycle. After eighteen months I received my new trike and I entered the South African National Time Trial and Road Race Championships. After winning two gold medals at those Championships I was included in the South African team for the World Cup later that year. In the four years that I have been competing on international level I have participated in four World Cups and two World Championships. In 2016 I won the overall World Cup in my class and in 2017 I won a silver medal at the World Championships. But cycling means so much more to me than medals and trophies. . .
Since childhood I had the desire be an athlete and participate in a competitive sport but I grew up in a small town and being disabled I didn't have the opportunity and right people around me to help me get into sport. When I went to university I started to participate in Ballroom and Latin dancing and although I enjoyed it it wasn't competitive enough for me and it was more inclined towards wheelchair dancers. After university I met up with a friend and she invited me to join the local league for para-cyclists. Being 29 years old I suspected that I had missed the opportunity to do competitive cycling but I wanted to start exercising and I thought joining the league was is great way to meet other people with disabilities. So one can imagine my surprise when the organizers of the league and friends of mine encouraged me of start thinking of competing on is national and international level.
The journey of becoming a competitive paracyclist started with me needing to upgrade my trike but I didn't have the financial resources. After eighteen months of crowd funding and meeting people who would be vital to my journey, I had a new tricycle which was suitable for competitions. I enjoyed applying myself to the training and seeing the small improvements (on most days :-) ) almost as much as I do the competitions. I thought if I trained for months or years perhaps I would one day get to represent my country. So imagine my surprise, even shock, when eight months later I found myself competing against the best at a World Cup in my own country!
Since 2015 I have maintained my spot in the South African team. I have had the privileged to not only travel my country competing but I have been to Italy (twice), Belguim, and the Netherlands representing my country at World Cups and World Championships. In 2017 at the World Championships I won a silver medal. I have maintain a World ranking within the top 5 cyclist in my catergory since 2016. I have also been nominated and won several regional, provincial, and national awards (See CV).
But cycling has brought so much more than the joy of competing. The health benefits far outweigh any medals or trophies that I might ever win. As someone with a disability, I have to keep my body as active as possible within my abilities and cycling has given me that opportunity. Mentally and emotionally cycling has helped me overcome depressive episodes and isolation, created new friendships, and given me a sense of community. It has also fulfilled a life long dream of traveling.
Despite my performances and results, I still am largely self funded and rely on crowd funding and my friends and supporters to fund my training and competitions. I am looking for sponsors
