Zola Budd Pieterse visits Polokwane
Zola Budd Pieterse, one of the most well-known athletes of our time presented an athletics clinic at Hoërskool Pietersburg on Friday afternoon.
POLOKWANE – Zola Budd Pieterse, one of the most well-known athletes of our time presented an athletics clinic at Hoërskool Pietersburg on Friday afternoon.
Pieterse competed in the 1984 Olympics for Britian and in 1992 she represented South Africa in the women’s 3 000 m. She is known for running barefoot in major races as well as for breaking the 5 000 m world record twice in three years.
Close to 100 people of all ages turned up to listen to the record-breaking barefoot athlete’s seminar on natural running.
Zola discussed several errors made when running as well as the correct running style to use, during an interactive session. She also took the athletes outside for a practical warm up session and demonstrated eight warm up exercises that can improve one’s running style.
For many of the people who attended this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and interact with their role model.
“It is such an honour to meet our legend,” said Johanna Mashishi from Pietersburg Road Runners, who also saw Pieterse during the Comrades Marathon.
“When we saw her then we just cheered ‘Zola! Zola!'” explained Mashishi’s friend, Betty Mashitisho.
Pieterse, who came seventh in the women’s category during the Comrades Marathon, said it was definitely the toughest race, emotionally and physically, that she had ever done. “The only thing that kept me going when I felt like I could not go on was my faith. You have to hold on,” Pieterse explained.
Pieterse further said she was also in the Polokwane area with Newton Running to deliver running shoes and gear to learners from Atokia Primary School.
“Fourteen SA cross-country runners came from the school last year but they don’t have financial support, so we decided to support them by providing gear,” Pieterse said.
Her advice to Polokwane’s young athletes is simple: “When you get discouraged, keep going, it is often the time when relief comes to you. Don’t let anything hold you back and keep going. Also make sure that running is your passion”.
