Leandri Geel breaks SA record in hammer throw

On April 1, Leandri Geel broke the record for women’s hammer throw in the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Senior Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom.

Leandri, a sports lover all her life and currently a coach at Hoërskool Monument High, started playing hockey, netball, and some cricket in primary school, Dr Havinga, however, her utmost favourite sport was always athletics. By the time she went to high school, she decided to make athletics her focus, as she preferred individual sports and taking accountability for her performances, whether they be good or bad.

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Regarding breaking the record Leandri said, “It feels amazing but to be honest I also felt relieved as it was one of my biggest goals for this season, so to achieve it at the SAs made it even more special.”

Leandri’s pre-season started in September 2022 and she trained every day to reach her goal and able to break the record for women’s hammer throw

Leandri explained that her success could be contributed to her drive to be a better athlete, her love for working hard, and the incredible people who have been so supportive in her journey to become one of South Africa’s greatest female hammer throwers.

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She added, “I owe it all to God, my coach, Chris Harmse, my family, my fiancé, and my training partners who have been there since day one.”

Next week she is competing in a Grand Prix in Germiston, after that Leandri will be competing in the student SA’s in Bloemfontein, however, what she is most excited about is the World students in China, after which training starts again for the 2024 athletic season.

“My advice to the young athletes would be the words of my coach, ‘approach every training session as if it was your last’. Putting yourself in uncomfortable situations is where you start to grow,” Leandri concluded.