In today’s day and age women are powerful, strong-spirited, determined and have the freedom to achieve their dreams and goals. Simply put, women are warriors.

No other woman quite personifies the term warrior as succinctly as Hanneké Dannhauser, the current leader in the ever popular Warrior Race with 19220 points.

This local dynamite obstacle course racer has a string of accolades and achievements, such as winning a Jeep, to her name and there is absolutely no stopping this 27-year-old, who currently trains at the NWU Puk High Performance Institute.

Dannhauser competes in the Black Ops Elite category where male and female battle in the same category – this is deemed as one of the most difficult categories where only the fittest and strongest, both physically and mentally prevail. Obstacle course racing is a challenge, but it is one that I absolutely enjoy with all my heart,” says the well toned and fighting fit Dannhauser.

OCR (obstacle course racing) is a sport in which the athlete, traveling on foot, has to overcome various challenges in the form of trail running and clearing military-like obstacles. She has definitely not looked back since claiming a brilliant third place in her first race in February 2014.

In the next couple of races she took first position and officially announced herself to the obstacle racing world – this farm girl will not lie down for anyone. “I came to a point in my life where I needed something to challenge me and that gave me that experience of living life to the absolute fullest,” says Dannhauser on her reasons for taking part in this torturous race.

There are 32 obstacles in one race with races ranging from 16-20 kilometers. Dannhauser normally practices twice a day during various activities. She also reckons that her practice routine and race fitness has increased since getting a trainer to monitor and assist in her preparation.

This wonder woman’s biggest attribute is her never-give-up attitude, says her fitness coach Jacus Coetzee.
“The satisfaction of overcoming obstacles has always been one of my main priorities. I have also always wanted to mean something more to someone and to act as a method of inspiration. My motto is to always look up, get up and never give up.”

“I broke my ankle in one of my races and still managed to finish 3rd in that race. It was not ideal in my preparation but I fought through the pain and went on to finish fifth in last year’s World Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio. I could not have done it without God,” she adds.

Her next big challenge will be to dominate at the World Championships in Ohio as well as the Ultimate Bear Grylls Race in England. Her main objective is to get a financial sponsorship which will enable her to compete in the Black Ops Elite Category of the International OCR event which will be held in Oregonia, Ohio on 17 and 18 October 2015, and the Ultimate Bear Grylls Survival Race which will be held in Trent Park, London on 3 and 4 October 2015.