With so many South African women in the sports and adventure realm doing amazing things, it’s impossible to list them all. On this Women’s Day read on to meet six women doing big things.
In the realm of sports and adventure, South African women stand as formidable forces, breaking barriers and defying odds. From the steep roads of Europe and rugged mountain trails to the depth of the ocean and the waves on its surface. Their courage, skill, and passion serve as inspiration, proving that gender is no barrier to conquering challenges. These empowered trailblazers transcend borders, echoing a call to embrace ambition and defy societal norms. While it is impossible to list all the amazing women doing big things in South Africa, this women’s day we shine the spotlight on six:
WOMEN’S DAY SPOTLIGHT: Zandile Ndhlovu – Ocean Explorer and Freediving Instructor
Zandile Ndhlovu is a Freediving Instructor and the founder of The Black Mermaid Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting diverse representation in the ocean arena. Her work revolves around introducing the youth to the ocean for the first time, aiming to create a meaningful and inclusive experience. As an ocean conservationist, and passionate speaker and storyteller, she leverages these talents to advocate for a more diverse and inclusive ocean environment while challenging incomplete narratives.
“I’m inspired to see what lies on the other side of energies and worlds we don’t often experience, I’m in love with the freefall in freediving, and my question is ‘how big can this bliss state get,’ and, ‘what else lives in this bliss state’,” she says. Zandile is a true change agent, driven by her belief in the transformative power of human potential, which plays a pivotal role in shaping the world we desire to inhabit, all while fostering collective efforts to drive positive change.
She believes that her work is here to remind us that regardless of where we come from, our age, our lineage, our race – it is all possible, for all of us. “As a girl from Soweto, to now be known as a mermaid to the world is a testament of this,” she says.
As the first Black African Freediving Instructor in South Africa, she embraces her unique position and is determined to share her profound love for the ocean with the world. With a strategic and innovative approach, the Black Mermaid empowers people to break through barriers and challenges.
Her outside-the-box perspective encourages individuals to overcome doubts and take significant strides towards achieving their goals. Through her guidance, many have learned to embrace the freedom and beauty of the ocean, metaphorically and literally diving into unexplored depths to find their true potential.
WOMEN’S DAY SPOTLIGHT: Candice Lil – UCI World Cycling Championships Silver Medalist
Candice Lill recently finished second in the elite women’s Cross Country Marathon event at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, which was the best-ever finish by a South African female in the event. The inspiring result is the pinnacle of an impressive palmares which also includes a bronze medal in the women’s cross-country event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Lill’s cycling journey began at a young age, and her innate talent quickly shone through. In 2012, she secured her first national title, marking the start of a remarkable career filled with victories in both national and international races. Her accolades include being a two-time South African cross-country champion and a two-time South African marathon champion. She has also finished second in the gruelling Absa Cape Epic three times.
Her grand goal is an Olympic medal and looking ahead to the Paris 2024 Olympics, she will draw strength from her previous experiences at both the London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 Games, as well as her massive result at World’s.
A role model to young cyclists not only in South Africa but also around the globe, Lill stands as an inspiration to many, proving on this women’s day that with determination and the right mindset, anything is possible in the world of cycling. Read more about Candice’s World Champs performance, here.
WOMEN’S DAY SPOTLIGHT: Caroline Matsimela – Cycling Coach
Caroline Matsimela is the founder of Matsimela Ladies Clinics (MLC), a cycling advocacy program based in Johannesburg, South Africa. MLC is a registered Non-Profit organization whose vision is that all African Ladies can be FREE and SAFE to ride their bicycles without fear – no limit to background, gender, shape, size, and location. MLC aims to empower African women who are beginners by teaching cycling skills and promoting good health, physical and mental wellness in their lives.
“What motivates me to get the next generation on bikes and cycling is because of the power that cycling has enabled me to experience,” says Caroline who holds a UCI Level 1 Cycling Coaching certificate. Madzemela Ladies was initiated amidst the challenging backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020. Now in its third year, the initiative was conceived due to the widespread struggles faced by women during these times.
While everyone experienced difficulties, Caroline believes women shouldered an extra burden of challenges and cycling helped her cope personally. “I would go for a ride and come back refreshed, feeling energised and be able to have a clearer mind to deal with whatever I needed to deal with, whether it be at work, whether it be at home,” she says.
Caroline found herself immersed in this experience, contemplating how she could extend it to other women. The idea was to equip them with cycling skills, enabling them to harness this activity as a tool for navigating life’s challenges. Primarily, it revolved around the concept of holistic wellness, encouraging African women to prioritise their health and embrace cycling as a medium for achieving it.
“Back when I began cycling, there were only a handful of women in the sport, a stark contrast to my background in running with its camaraderie and club support. Transitioning to cycling, I encountered a sense of isolation and pondered ways to expand the community. I realized I didn’t want to be the sole cyclist in my circle, prompting the question: How could I make cycling more accessible and inviting?” Caroline explains.
Conversations with her runner friends brought clarity. They expressed their desire to cycle but felt overwhelmed by the technical aspects. They possessed bikes and fitness, but lacked guidance. That is where Caroline came in. Now she dreams of taking her initiative further.
“The vision is to see a world that is free to be able to ride a bicycle anyway, without limitation of safety, age, location or background. It doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t matter.”
“So now it’s more about: ‘How do we take this to the world?’ Not only in Gauteng (where we are currently based), but how do we make this circle bigger to the continent, to the world?”
WOMEN’S DAY SPOTLIGHT: Remy Kloos – Alpinist
In 2022 Remy Kloos became the first South African to summit Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse consecutively within 24 hours. This remarkable feat is just one in a long list that stand as a testament to the unyielding spirit of a woman who left behind a high-powered corporate job and had been battling deppression since her teenage years.
Her quest to conquer all seven summits started when she undertook a solo 800km pilgrimage across Spain and a daring expedition to Russia’s tallest peak. “Those adventures were big and life changing,” she says, explaining that if the uncertainty of solo travel wasn’t enough to process, she decided to continue her journey of summiting the highest mountains around the world, all for a bigger cause.
Remy believes that we all have a powerful and brave warrior inside of us all, and beyond her mountaineering achievements, Remy is a true expert in the realm of personal growth and empowerment. She aims to use her mountaineering and life experiences as well as her qualifications in life coaching, motivational coaching, and emotional and social intelligence coaching to inspire others to shape the life they want.
WOMEN’S DAY SPOTLIGHT: Toni McCann – Ultra Trail Runner
Toni McCann is a professional mountain trail runner taming the high alpine trails of Europe. Beyond her extraordinary mountain running endeavours, Toni’s ‘day job’ involves guiding and motivating individuals to unlock their hidden potential. Through her venture, Flat Rock Endurance, she helps people discover the transformative power of nature and movement in their daily lives.
Her approach emphasizes learning from challenging situations and embracing the mindset that we are all capable of achieving incredible feats.
Toni’s remarkable 2022 in trail running saw her achieve impressive feats, including a 2nd place finish at Transgrancanaria, a 4th place at Maxi Race in Annecy, and another 4th place at Livigno Skymarathon. Her crowning glory was the victory at Zugspitz Ultra, where she not only claimed the women’s title but finished 3rd overall.
Toni also set a new women’s course record at the Otter African Trail Run, earning her a coveted R150,000 bonus. Despite a shoulder injury in early 2023, she made a triumphant comeback with a recent win at the Transvulcania La Palma Island by UTMB 2023.
When not conquering the mountains or empowering others, you can find Toni McCann in the kitchen, channelling her creativity into culinary delights. Her multifaceted personality extends beyond the trails, showcasing her passion for exploring diverse arenas and enjoying life to the fullest.
WOMEN’S DAY SPOTLIGHT: Sarah Baum – Professional Surfer
At just 17 years old, Sarah Baum came tantalisingly close to securing a spot on the Championship Tour, setting the stage for a promising future in the sport. After experiencing a few near misses in subsequent years, Sarah made a pivotal decision to take a break from competition.
However, in 2019, her love for surfing reignited, and she wholeheartedly committed herself to the Qualifying Series. It was during this time that she found a new home in Newcastle, New South Wales, where she achieved significant career victories and rediscovered her passion for riding the waves.
With her eyes firmly set on success, Sarah successfully qualified for the Challenger Series in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. During her time away from the competitive scene, Baum found her true identity as an athlete. This period of self-discovery proved to be a pivotal moment in her life and through her recent results she has qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Now, at the age of 29 and armed with newfound strategies, Baum is making a comeback. Through practices like meditation, journaling, maintaining balanced nutrition, and building a strong support network across continents, she believes she has gained an edge over her younger self. Her determination is unwavering, as she aims to elevate female surfers from South Africa back onto the global surfing map.
