Three boxers from Bert Collins Boxing Club in Springs secured medals at the South African Youth and Elite National Boxing Championships, which took place from July 8 to 11 at the Western Cape Sport School in Cape Town.

Eugene Scholtz, Leandri Botha and Geannè Dicks received bronze medals for their performances.

Reflecting on her experience, Geannè Dicks said it was both exciting and challenging.

“What was going through my mind was that I have to give it my all,” she said.

Geannè said she was in disbelief when she lost after a gruelling fight.

“The opposing fighter kept hitting me behind my head and the referee did nothing, so I couldn’t believe that she won after the match we had,” she said.

She said the support from her coaches and family is what keeps her going. Another boxer, Hester Botha, said it was an honour to represent his club in the SA champs.

“I had a good experience in the ring with very difficult boxers from each province, but I learned some things from them and I hope they learned some things from me too,” he said.

He won his first fight by more points, but lost his last.

“My goal is to keep on boxing and to make my coaches proud by training harder for next year’s championships. My dream is to be the world champion one day,” Hester concluded.

The club’s head coach, Jeanette van Zyl, expressed her pride over the team’s overall performance.

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“As a coach, I could not be prouder of our team’s performance at the SA Championships. These athletes have worked tirelessly throughout the year, often making sacrifices that many people never see.

“To return home with three bronze medals is an incredible achievement and a reflection of their dedication, discipline, and fighting spirit,” she said.

She talked about some of the challenges they experienced leading up to the competition.

“We experienced some financial burdens, like many amateur athletes; our boxers and their families had to make sacrifices to ensure they could attend and compete.

“There were also the physical and mental demands of balancing training with school, work, and personal responsibilities.

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“Despite these challenges, the athletes never complained.

“They showed determination, resilience, and a willingness to keep pushing forward, which makes their achievements even more special,” Jeanette said.

Jeanette talked about the lessons they learned from the experience.

“It has taught us that we are capable of competing at the highest level, but it has also shown us where we can improve.

“The athletes now understand what it takes to succeed nationally and what is required to take that next step,” she said.