Connie Mulder star conquers diversity

Despite facing life-altering challenges from an early age, Karin Smith (49) has never allowed adversity to define her. A childhood accident left her with epilepsy, but her passion for sports and determination to succeed propelled her forward.

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From breaking records in school athletics to making history on the golf course, Karin’s journey is one of resilience, courage, and unwavering perseverance.

At just two years old, Karin was involved in a car accident which resulted in her developing epilepsy. Despite this, she attended primary school and performed well academically. In 1989, she began attending Hoërskool Voortrekkerhoogte, where she excelled in middle-distance running and field events such as shot put, discus and javelin.

By 1990, she had earned a place in the U15 team and gave an outstanding performance by breaking the previous inter-high shot put record. This achievement qualified her for the 1990 South African Sports Championships.

At the championships, she secured a bronze medal in javelin and won gold in both shot put and discus. In recognition of her accomplishments, her school awarded her full honours colours.

However, despite receiving ongoing treatment for her epilepsy, her condition worsened, forcing her to leave school at the end of Grade 10. She later completed her matric at a college, which marked the end of her school sports career. She went on to complete courses in hairdressing and administrative work and at the age of 19, Karin took up golf casually with her older brother. Remarkably, during her very first round of golf at Zwartkop Country Club, she made history by achieving a hole-in-one.

Her journey became even more challenging following the passing of her mother in 2021. With her family members working full-time and no one available to provide her with constant care, they made the difficult decision to place her in the Connie Mulder Centre in Randfontein, where she received proper care.

After undergoing brain surgery for epilepsy, she developed a condition known as “epilepsy feet” which causes uncontrollable jerking and shaking, loss of awareness, blank staring, and muscle stiffness.

“The family has always supported her with love and affection. I always advise Karin to stay positive and focus on what she has,” said her sister-in-law, Annamein Smith.

Karin also shared some words of encouragement for athletes facing similar challenges.

Always work hard, stay positive, and surround yourself with good people. Use your time constructively, stay active, and seek better opportunities.”

She currently receives a SASSA disability grant and her family provides financial support whenever possible. Although she is not employed in the formal workforce, she continues to pursue her passions.

On March 4, she participated in the Inter-Centre Athletics event at Alma Mater International School, representing the Centre team.

Karin’s journey has been remarkable, and she still dreams of becoming one of the top athletes in the nation. She emphasises the importance of viewing setbacks and failures as opportunities to learn and grow.