Local woman celebrated for Women Who Inspires
She is a rising star in the world of equestrian, vaulting and dance at 13 years old.
Victoria-Anne Robinson-Monteiro is the first woman to feature in our Women Who Inspires feature that aims to profile and showcase trailblazers in our own community as we celebrate Women’s Month.
At 13 years old, Victoria-Anne, a learner at St Andrew’s School for Girls, has already made a name for herself across a range of disciplines.
Her outstanding achievements in equestrian sports, vaulting, dance, and academics showcase a dedication and resilience that are truly inspiring.
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She is also the dive captain at the school and a vice-house captain.
Victoria-Anne’s journey in equestrian sports began early, influenced by her mother’s passion for horse riding.
Today, she is a vital member of the St Andrew’s Equestrian team, which recently earned ninth place out of 240 primary schools.
“I am passionate about my equestrian because I’ve grown up with horses, and horses are my favourite animal.
“And it’s incredibly rewarding to see all the hard work pay off when you finally achieve something,” explained Victoria-Anne.
Her talent is also evident in mounted archery, where she represented the Gauteng A-team and won the national champion title for Tower in 2023.
Victoria-Anne’s achievements in showjumping and dressage are equally impressive, having qualified at regionals to represent Gauteng at the upcoming national tournaments in multiple disciplines such as the working hunter (L7) A team, working riding (L7) A team and the showjumping competition CL (L4) A team among others.
In 2020 she suffered a severe back injury resulting in her having to take a year off from her athletic activities.
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“Even after my injury, I knew I had to keep pushing forward. It helps me to work through fears, also I enjoy the adrenaline, and it is such a fun sport.
“Even if I fall off I’m like, can I go again?” she said.
Her resilience is highlighted by her ranking as the world’s top developing vaulting country by the FEI for the beginner vaulter category in 2023.
She’s now aiming for the European and also the world championships soon.
Dancing and academics
In addition to her athletic pursuits, Victoria-Anne excels in dance, having earned her Protea Colours and being selected for the 2024 SA Team in multiple dance styles.
“Competing internationally in dance is a dream come true,” she stated.
Her academic achievements are equally impressive; she consistently earns distinctions and has been invited to write a scholarship exam for high school.
Despite her busy schedule, Victoria-Anne remains committed to giving back.
She makes 50 sandwiches weekly for the Itemba Feeding Scheme and also assists them by providing her time.
An opportunity she refers to as a ‘rewarding’ experience.
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Victoria-Anne’s story is one of extraordinary talent and determination and amongst her many talents and achievements, she is also the ambassador for Rites Skin Solutions.
She is a strong believer as well in the importance of education.
Her ability to balance multiple high-level pursuits while maintaining a strong academic record and a commitment to community service makes her a role model for her peers and an inspiration to all.
Nominate a Trailblazer
As we celebrate the incredible women making a difference in our communities this August, we invite you to nominate others who are breaking barriers and achieving great things.
Share their stories with us by emailing sharon@caxto.co.za to highlight the incredible women shaping our world.
