By Busi Vilakazi
Ntuthuko Ndimande is a true inspiration to his peers.
The 16-year-old Jeppe Boy has been making a name for himself in the athletics world, from breaking records to representing South Africa in Nairobi.
Ntuthuko started running at the age of 10 years old and has not looked back ever since.
“My first try in athletics was a 5km run and I thought I would not perform well, but I finished in fourth place,” said Ntuthuko.
He said after that his mother made him choose between soccer and athletics.
“I chose athletics because I love the fact that it is an individual sport. You challenge yourself and compete against yourself. You can only blame yourself when you don’t perform,” said Ntuthuko.
Raised by a single parent, he said his mother has been an inspiration and driving force for him to do well.
“My mother is my number one fan and she is always there for me and supports me 100 per cent and all my wins are for her,” he said.
“The joy I see in her eyes when I do well makes me proud.”
In July this year, Ntuthuko competed in the Confederation of African Athletics championships in Equatorial Guinea and the IAAF World U-18 Championships, a global athletics event comprising track and field events for competitors 17 or younger, in Nairobi.
He said all these achievements have made him humble.
“All my achievements are through hard work and dedication. I’m humbled by them and only want them to make me a better person,” said Ntuthuko.
He said being an athlete is not easy because of the level of commitment that is needed, but it has its rewards.
“It is difficult because you are constantly training to be better than the previous race. Sometimes you train twice a day and still have to make time for your studies. But when you cross the finish line in a race and reflect on the sacrifices you have made to win, it is all worth it,” he said.
The youngster plans to be a professional athlete and to one day study architecture.
Ntuthuko is regarded as the school’s greatest athlete by Jeppe’s master in charge of athletics, Brendan Gittins.
Ntuthuko recently broke Gittins’ long-standing record at the Grand Prix meeting at KES.
His 1:55,2 in the u-16 800m bettered Gittins’ time, set in 2002, by two seconds, and he went on to smash the 1 500m record, which had stood since 1972, by more than 12 seconds.
He now holds all school records for u-14, u-15 and u-16 over 800m and 1 500m.
“I’m honoured to be trained by the best and all the support I have around motivates me to win,” said Ntuthuko.
His story is a true inspiration and proves that with dedication and hard work, good things are possible.
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