Calinka Kotzé runs straight towards gold medals

The 14th Open Africa Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships recently took place in Pretoria and they served as the perfect competition for local athlete Calinka Kotzé, to take home three gold medals.

This was no easy feat for the 42-year-old, considering it was only last year that she decided to dust off her tekkies after having left them idle for about 22 years. At the championships she ran in the 5000m, 1500m and cross-country races.

In her years away from the sport, Kotzé built a career and become a mother, and while watching her children train for athletics, and excitement for the sport built with in. But, it wasn’t until she got Covid in April 2022 that she knew she never wanted to feel that way again. So she found her mark, and started training with her children and their coach just in an effort to get healthy again though she never expected she would ultimately do so well.

After four months of training, it seemed her talents were set on showing her her power as she made the Central Gauteng Athletics cross-country team and participated at the South African Cross-Country Championships.

From then on it was nothing but go for her as she made sure to get ready for every competition with the sort of determination preparations for them required. “It was very hard, especially starting 21 years later at this age. It took six days a week of training where four of the sessions were double,” she said.
In these sessions, that would see her wake up at 04:00, she worked her strength, endurance and speed. Of all of these, however, mental preparation was the hardest, “To stay motivated and push through days where my legs just couldn’t carry me, where my times in training were not what I expected.”

Her experience of the championships was nothing short of phenomenal as she got to run against athletes from Kenya which was amazing for her. Coupled with this was the camaraderie found among the runners as each one understood the dedication and love of the sport to get where they all are.

The track is not all smooth though, it is also riddled with hurdles for her to confidently conquer. While being a formidable athlete, she is also a full-time teacher, mother and wife. “As a mother you can’t always get to training but when I was in training I pushed myself harder to make up for the times where motherhood came first or the teacher role needed to be fulfilled first. It helps a lot that I have a wonderful husband who has supported me since day one.”
She contracted swine flu six months before her recent competition, but it credits her dedication to push through discomfort and a supportive coach.

To fellow athletes and children, Kotzé says she knows it’s not always easy to follow your dreams. In the years since she hung up her shoes, she had wondered if she would still be able to run and was therefore scared to take that leap of faith. “At 41 years old I decided to jump and give it my all. You are never too old or too weak to follow your dreams. It is challenging at times but most importantly is to push through and keep on trying.”

Another facet she champions is to surround yourself with people that love, respect and understand your dreams, who will help carry you when you can’t carry yourself. Ultimately, just have faith and believe yourself while following your dreams and staying humble.

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