South Africa’s top women’s long jumper Lynique Prinsloo (25) plans to make her mark at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to 21.
Tomorrow (Friday, July 29) marks exactly seven days before the track and field competition starts in Rio.
Lynique, an ex-Springs resident who now resides in Pretoria, will approach the Olympics with confidence.
She feels honoured to be part of the Olympics team and with her personal best of 6.81m, she plans on giving SA her best.
The team departed from OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday and Lynique will spend 13 days in Brazil before she participates.
“We will be staying in the Olympic Village where I will train with my coach Emmarie Fouche,” she says.
This ex-Hoërskool Hugenote pupil would like to go through to the finals of the games and says “that will be an achievement on its own”.
“Literally anything can happen in the final,” she says.
Athletics has been part of her life since she was in Laerskool Selectionpark and this star athlete has received her SA colours annually since Grade 10.
Her long jump journey is a talent she describes as “a gift from God”.
Lynique’s career has produced several highlights including when she was chosen for the SA Athletic Team in her matric year.
Her role model is Tim Tebow an American football quarterback.
“He reflects his faith in God through his sport,” she says.
She hardly ever has time to relax, but when she is at home, she spends time with her fiance, the 400m hurdler PC Beneke, her family and friends.
She is studying for her bachelors degree in higher education at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) with her main subjects being psychology and life orientation.
“My aim is to become an educational psychologist and to convey my sport passion to the youth,” she says.
Lynique’s advice to upcoming athletes is to never give up.
“To pursue a career in sport requires sacrifice, success does not happen overnight,” she adds.
