I am a professional triathlete representing South Africa, currently based in the UK, where I balance elite-level racing with studying medicine at the University of Bristol. At 20 years old, I have been in the sport for five years, recently making the transition from age-group racing to professional competition. I don’t make life easy for myself, trying to do an incredibly time-consuming sport at a high level while studying a tough degree, but I honestly love triathlon and medicine so much – they excite me and I like the idea of proving to others that you can pursue sport alongside academics. I also enjoy documenting this balance in depth on Instagram, sharing the highs and challenges of training, racing, and studying. 

I first got into triathlon at 15 after a background of football and occasional running. When Covid hit and my GCSEs were cancelled, I got a job in my local bike shop and spent the whole of lock-down cycling and running on the empty roads. The structure, the progression, and the endless ways to improve hooked me. I signed up for an Ironman race right after I turned 18 and a week after my final A levels which is when I began the balance of training for sport and studying of my final school years. 

Triathlon is more than just a sport for me—it’s a lifestyle that pushes my every limit, physically and mentally. There’s something incredibly rewarding about the process, the day-in, day-out grind, and then putting it all together on race day. The sport teaches resilience, discipline, and patience. No two races are the same, and no finish line feels any less rewarding. 

I balance professional triathlon with studying medicine at university. Managing training and academics is a constant challenge, but it has taught me valuable skills in time management and prioritization. 

I am passionate about growing the sport and making it more accessible. I often engage with younger athletes through Q&A sessions and mentoring, especially to show that you don’t have to choose between sport and academics. 

INSPIRATION:
Jan Frodeno is my biggest inspiration—his consistency, professionalism, and longevity in the sport are unmatched. I also look up to Taylor Knibb for the way she seamlessly balances different disciplines and pushes the limits of what’s possible in triathlon.