It is no wonder that the HPC has produced some of the best sport talent that South Africa has to offer. Here is a look at two of South Africa’s biggest sports stars who have trained with the HPC.
Cameron van der Burg
The 28 year-old has one of the most well-known faces in the country, and has represented South Africa at various World Championships and Olympic Games. In 2012 he won Olympic gold for the 100-meter breaststroke, and in 2016 he swam to silver in the same event after being beaten by the young Adam Peathy. He has also won multiple World and Commonwealth Championship medals, and recently won gold for the 50-meter breaststroke at the 2016 FINA World Championships. He currently holds the South African records for both the 50 and 100-metre breaststroke, and in 2013 he was awarded the silver Order or Ikhamanaga by the South African President for his outstanding achievements.
Luvo Manyonga
The heart-warming and inspirational story of this Olympic long-jumper seems as if it were based on a Hollywood movie. Manyonga’s first major achievements were in 2010 when he won the IAAF Junior World Championships title, and in 2011 when he won gold at the All African Games with an impressive jump of 8.02m. However, his life started to spiral out of control in 2012 when he began using the methamphetamine, tik. In March of 2012 he tested positive for tik and was then banned from competing for eighteen months. After a few years of being stuck in his addiction, Gideon Sam, the president of SASCOC, arranged for Manyoga to be housed at the HPC and Manyonga restarted his training. In 2016 he qualified for the South African Olympic team and went on to win silver, only one centimetre away from gold.
Photo: www.supersport.com.
