Proud athlete’s barefoot journey to Rio

When local resident Alyssa Conley was making a name for herself in primary school by outrunning the boys barefooted, she never dreamed it would lead to an athletics career at the highest level.

And this year, the 25-year-old University of Johannesburg Club member stood in the country’s green and gold colours and competed on the world’s greatest stage at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“My earliest memories are running the boys’ leg in the mixed relays and beating them,” said Conley.

In the early days, Conley ran without spikes which led to her teachers nicknaming her Zola Budd after South Africa’s famous runner who made barefoot running fashionable in the early 80s.

Since then Conley has become the country’s top women’s sprinter, winning the national 100m and 200m titles this year and being named the Gauteng Sportswoman of the Year for her achievements.

Conley said she was overwhelmed with joy at the honour, especially given the strength of the competition in Gauteng.

Her target is now to run the 100m dash in less than 11 seconds and to make the finals at next year’s world champs in London.

Conley’s focus is purely on athletics but she is a versatile athlete having played badminton at national level and netball at regional level.

“But I love speed, so I also take a big interest in fast cars as well as the old classics.”

Conley said her family and friends provided a strong support base.

She added that her sister, Simone, the biokineticist for the SA U23 men’s soccer team, was her role model.

Having started at UJ in 2008, Conley said the varsity staff was influential in her development.