Jennah Jacobs, a Grade 10 learner from Helpmekaar College in Parktown, has made South Africa proud after winning gold at the 2025 African Youth Championship, held in Angola in December.

Representing Team RSA, which was selected and supported by SASCOC, the young cyclist delivered a performance that confirmed her as one of the country’s brightest sporting talents.

In addition to her individual gold medal in the women’s road race, Jennah and her team also helped South Africa secure a bronze medal in the team time trial.

The 15-year-old, who grew up in Alberton, described the experience of representing her country as unforgettable.

“It feels amazing. I’m so proud of it. I see the gear and my medals, and I’m just like, I did that,” she said.

From lockdown hobby to serious contender

Jennah’s journey into cycling began during lockdown.

“In lockdown, I rode my mountain bike a lot,” she explained.

“Someone told me that I should compete in the high team champs, which I did and won.”

It was there that she met her coach and began focusing on track and road cycling.

Although she always enjoyed sport and previously swam seriously as part of the Alberton swimming team, cycling gradually took centre stage.

“I used to swim seriously, but it kind of drifted away because I started focusing more on cycling,” she said. “I’m also academically driven because I want to have a successful career one day outside of sport.”

She realised last year that cycling could take her far. “The competitions started coming in, the field got bigger and more serious, and I thought, I really want to do this.”

Balancing school and sport

Jennah’s weekly training schedule is demanding. She trains six to seven days a week, averaging between 15 and 20 hours. This includes long rides every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.

“A long ride is between three and four hours,” she explained.

“On a Wednesday it’s around 70km, and on the weekend it can be about 100km. Saturday is usually three hours and Sunday is four to five.”

Between those rides, she focuses on interval training. In the build-up to the African Youth Championship, her training increased to more than 20 hours a week.

“We were really going at it,” she shared.

Balancing schoolwork with such a schedule is not easy.

“I try to train before school so that after school I have more time to do homework and study,” she explained.
Her father, Eugene Jacobs, highlighted that her commitment stands out.

“She makes me get up at 04:00 on a Saturday or Sunday because I must take her to her ride and provide ride support,” he said.

“She even does CrossFit with me in the mornings, over and above the cycling. She does well at school. It’s not often these days that you get a young person who is so goal-driven.”

A golden sprint in Angola

Jennah did not initially believe she would make the national team after a disappointing performance at the national championships.

“I didn’t have a good race and didn’t think I was going to make it,” she said.

However, her past results and consistent performance secured her selection.

Racing in Angola brought its own challenges. Temperatures reached 40ºC with humidity around 70%.

In the final moments of the women’s road race, Jennah found herself boxed in within the bunch.

Messages of encouragement from friends and family on her sports watch, and her father shouting his support from the roadside, encouraged a bold move.

“I was sitting in the middle of the bunch and thought there’s no way I can sit at the back because that’s dangerous. I went to the front, and I sprinted for about 5km,” she recalled.

“When I got to the line, I think all my emotions just went. I almost started crying.”

Her victory crowned her Africa champion at the youth level, a title she carries with much pride.

“It means a lot to me. I love to inspire younger girls. African cycling isn’t very developed, so it means a lot.”

Jennah also competed in the team time trial, where South Africa claimed bronze despite facing equipment restrictions.

The team could not use professional time trial bikes and had to compete on standard road bikes, while other nations had specialised equipment. One of the South African riders was too young to use a time trial bike according to the regulations, and it was decided that none of the team would use one.

“It was so hot. It was short, but it was fast,” Jennah said.

“I think if we had better equipment, we could have won, but with what we had and the conditions we were in, I think we did amazing.”

Track specialist with big dreams

Although she triumphed on the road in Angola, Jennah’s speciality is track cycling. She has won South African Championship titles and is the 500m time trial record holder on the track.

At the African Youth Championship, there was no velodrome, an arena for track cycling, so she competed on the road instead. The upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Dakar in November will feature road racing. However, the Commonwealth Games next year will include track events.

“I think my speciality is track,” she said. “However, I love racing on the road. The track is much higher intensity with a lot more sprinting.”

Track cycling offers greater variety, with numerous race formats ranging from sprint events to endurance races and points races, similar to different distances in athletics.

Belgium opportunity and Olympic ambitions

Jennah’s talent has also earned her a place in a professional team in Belgium. She will spend two months there this year, returning later for another two months.

During that time, she expects to compete in more than 20 races and around 40 races in total this season.

“In Belgium, our team will train and go to the gym together, but I’ll still do my training with my coach,” she said.

Her father believes the European exposure will prepare her well for international competition.

“If she wants to do well at the Youth Olympics, it’s better that she competes against those riders,” he said.

Looking ahead, Jennah has a clear set of goals she strives to achieve.

“I want to go to the Youth Olympic Games later this year.”

She also has her sights set on next year’s Commonwealth Games, and in the longer term, the Olympic Games.

When she is not training or racing, Jennah enjoys spending time with friends and family, who have been her biggest supporters.

For young athletes hoping to follow in her footsteps, Jennah shared her advice: “It’s very important to decide what you want to do. You can’t do everything. If you want to specialise and get further, you need to stay committed. If you’re committed, there’s nothing that’s going to stop you.”