Gran comes third at National Games

Hlepi Mary Dassie, a 72-year-old lady, has taken the first place in sports competitions for the elderly at local, district and provincial levels since 2017.

Dassie’s journey started with the inception of Tshepang Old Age Service Club in 2014. Tshepang is a club that offers several activities for the elderly; however, she prefers running and brisk walking. “Before getting together with the other members of the club, I would go running at the Ikageng Stadium,” she says.

Paulina Mathiba, the coordinator of the club and Dassie’s neighbour, says Dassie participated in the local sporting competitions and qualified for the three levels in 2017 and 2018. Sadly, she encountered a few hiccups that didn’t allow her to compete in the finals. But her path cleared up this year and Dassie, once again, competed in the all the competitions and made it through to the 2019 National Golden Games for Older Persons in Port Elizabeth. She qualified for the 500 m brisk walking event.

When she competed in the brisk walking category recently, she came up against some 60-year-olds. But that didn’t put her off at all. “When I arrived at the finish line, I didn’t know what position I had come in. What I do remember is that many people approached me and asked me how I felt. I answered them cheerfully, ‘I feel all right!’,” says Dassie. They continued to express their shock that a 70-plus woman would brisk walk like she did and still beat those in their 60’s. Dassie came third for 500 m brisk walking. Even after that round, she said she still had so much energy that she could have brisk walked for another 500 metres.

Lenah Masibi, Dassie’s youngest sibling, expresses her gratitude and says she was so proud of how far Dassie had come, especially her latest achievements. “When we go to church, I always tell her ‘It’s okay, you can go ahead, we will get you at church’ because she always walks so fast. That forces us to walk quickly, too, and that’s too much for me,” Masibi says. “God has really blessed her.” When Mathiba hears the sound of someone shovelling or watering the garden at 05:00, she knows it is Dassie. “At the age of 72, she is very strong. She mows her lawn, cuts the branches of her trees and cleans her own home. At times, she even paints the walls of her house,” says Mathiba as Dassie giggles.

Dassie encourages everyone, especially senior citizens, to do something as long as God has given them the opportunity and strength to do it. “When you are given a task to complete, ensure that you do it to the best of your ability, as it will benefit you as a person,” she says.

Dassie is a bubbly, energetic 72-year-old has proved that one is never too old or fragile to do extraordinary things.

See a video of her is action below: