Spotlight: UP’s Olympic athletes

by Jason Visser and Karla van Dyk | Oct 19, 2024 | Sports

At this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, our sportspeople kept the South African flag flying high. It comes as no surprise that many of those who represented our country are or have been associated with Tuks. PDBY caught up with five of our Olympians currently training at Tuks, asking about their experiences in Paris and plans for the future. These Olympians are Erin Gallagher, Pieter Coetzé, Edmund du Plessis, Calvin Davis, and Wian Roux.

Gallagher (a UP student in BSc Geography and Environmental Sciences) and Coetzé (who does not believe in gnomes as he once claimed in a podcast interview) spend most of their time in Tuks’s swimming pool, coached by Rocco Meiring. In Paris, Gallagher made it to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m butterfly, and Coetzé swam in the finals for the men’s 100m and 200m backstroke.

Du Plessis is a current UP medicine student and a member of the Tuks Athletics team who trains with Ilze Wicksell. He qualified for the 2024 Olympics in the 800 metres and reached the semi-finals of this event. In the realm of hockey, Davis was chosen to participate in Paris as part of the South African team. This BCom Marketing student is also the captain of the men’s first hockey team at UP, with coach Sihle Ntuli. Finally, Tuks archer and student Roux is the first South African to wield a bow and arrows at the Olympics in 12 years. Roux is coached by his father, Patrick Roux.

What was your favourite part or moment of the 2024 Olympics?

Gallagher: Before every competition we have a little prayer circle before the gala starts. One of the girls from the previous Olympics, she was too nervous to pray in Tokyo, and in Paris, she said the most beautiful, simple prayer that I’ve ever heard. It was just such a pure moment, and that for me has really stood out from the Olympic games. Just the presence of God and how beautiful it was.

Coetzé: I think the first race, when I walked out and heard the crowd, and I saw how many people were actually there.

Du Plessis: My favourite part was the actual race, […] the 800 metres. I really enjoyed the stadium, running there, and competing with all the people you always see on TV. Meeting all these famous people and then running in the heats and semi-finals was definitely the highlight for me.

Davis: My favourite moment would probably be our last pool game against France. It was special to come out on top against the host nation with the French crowd roaring against us. Winning that game was definitely the highlight of the trip.

Roux: Walking onto the Elimination stage and seeing the crowds. It gives you a feeling of pride knowing that what you are doing is a dream for many.

Who inspires you and why?

Gallagher: My teammates inspire me a lot. Tatjana Smith, who is now recently retired, has showcased how anything is possible and you don’t need to go overseas to achieve your goals. You can do it in your hometown. And just to see her work ethic is really inspiring. It’s incredible to have her as a friend and someone that I look up to as well.

Coetzé: That’s a tough one, but I think probably mostly my dad and my mom because [of] the example they set for me in my life and where they also came from and how hard they work.

Du Plessis: I wouldn’t say there’s one person that inspires me. I think I’m inspired overall by hard work and dedication. When I see someone who sets goals for themselves and works hard to chase those goals, that’s what inspires me. People with high standards who strive to achieve them really motivate me.

Davis: My immediate family – my mum, dad, and sister. They’re always supporting me and keeping me level-headed. I’m also inspired by my coach from Tuks, Sihle Ntuli, who’s always there to set me in the right direction. Those four people are my biggest inspirations.

Roux: My parents. Firstly, my dad, as a competitive archer himself, started at the age of 41 and ended up with a variety of international medals including some World Championships medals. Secondly, my mom who started at 42 and ended up with an individual bronze medal at the World Championships as well as other individual medals. They showed me that by working hard and [remaining consistent, performance] is a possibility.

What motivates you to continue when things get difficult?

Gallagher: Definitely God, my family, and my teammates. I think it’s so great to have such a community to support you. And I can also throw my coach in. Not for extra brownie points because he’s listening. […] And I think it’s just so great to have people in your corner that understand what you go through, and I’ve mentioned before that Rocco is a perfect combination of dad and coach. So, when I need someone to be stricter [with] me, then the coach comes out, and when I need some more compassion, then the dad side comes out. It’s really incredible to have that to keep you motivated.

Coetzé: Just thinking about what I want to do and my goals most of the time because a few times a week I really don’t feel like actually getting in the pool, and then you just have to think about why you’re actually doing it, and you must kind of stop living by what you feel like. So, if you feel tired or you feel like you don’t want to do it, you must put that to the side – it’s still going to be the same every time. If you don’t feel like it, you’re still going to do it. […] It’s just consistency.

Du Plessis: I set myself high standards and goals. Even when it gets difficult and you don’t feel like training, it’s those goals and dreams that keep me going. I always have plans in my head of what I want to achieve, and every time I reach a goal, I set a new one and raise the bar. That constant push to be better is what drives me.

Davis: I’d say I’ve got quite a strong mind, and it’s often myself that pushes me forward. But also, the people around me and the pure love of the game – hockey – keep me going. That winning feeling, whether it’s in a tournament or a game you’ve trained hard for, is what drives me.

Roux: Knowing that the opportunities that I have been given and the talent I have at my disposal cannot be wasted on being lazy and giving up.

Do you see yourself training at Tuks for the foreseeable future?

Gallagher: Definitely. I have to say it because my coach is sitting right next to me. No, I’m kidding. For the next four years, I will be here, until the 2028 LA Olympics.

Coetzé: Yes, definitely. I really enjoy South Africa as a whole, so I don’t want to leave the country, and if you stay in South Africa, there’s no better place than Tuks to train. And I trust [Coach] Rocco. I trust his programme, and I think he knows this game very well.

Du Plessis: I’m an athlete focused on running, so yes. […] I’m part of a training group led by Ilse Wicksell. We mainly focus on 400 metres, 800 metres, and some athletes do 1500 metres. It’s a great group, and we do train at different locations sometimes, but Tuks is our home base during the athletics season.

Davis: Yes, I do. I’ll be at Tuks until 2025 – that’s the plan for now. I’ve got to finish my degree, and we’ll see what happens from there.

Roux: [I] definitely do plan on continuing my archery competitively [and training at Tuks] for the foreseeable future, because I enjoy competing internationally.

What is your next goal?

Gallagher: Weirdly, my next goal is to not have a goal. I said going into the Olympics, I didn’t realise how much pressure we put on ourselves as athletes, and I think we kind of go into this robot mode [where] you stop doing things that aren’t going to [help] you towards your goal. […] Your life becomes quite strict, and so after Olympics I have been looking forward to switching off completely and just being a normal human being. […] And I know when the new year comes around, the goals are going to come flying in. I know that my next goal is World Champs, but right now, it’s to not have a goal. […] It’s just kind of to fill up my cup again and to fill up the emotional side to again find my love for swimming.

Coetzé: I’m not thinking too far ahead right now, but a lot of people think in terms of every four years with the Olympics, and I don’t really like that because between those four years there are things [happening] in every single year. So, I think between now and then, I want to become the main guy. I want to be the best in the world and go into LA as the favourite. Whatever that entails, that’s what I want.

Du Plessis: My next goal is to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in Japan next year. I want to improve my times from this year, set new personal bests, and just be better overall physically. If I can make the final at Worlds, that would be the ultimate goal. And once you’re in the final, anything can happen – everyone’s going for a medal.

Davis: My next goal is to make it into the national team again. If that happens, I’d love to go to the Commonwealth Games, and then in four years’ time, aim for another Olympics. But my priority is to stay in the national team and keep playing high-level hockey for them, especially.

Roux: To try and win a medal at the 2025 University Games in Germany.

What advice would you have for someone who dreams of going to the Olympics?

Gallagher: [Do] not compare yourself to other people. Swimming is a very individual sport in terms of your makeup is completely different to somebody else’s makeup – someone can peak at 16, and someone can peak at 24. I think it’s so important to not compare your chapter one to someone’s chapter seven because they might be ten steps ahead of you, and you’re still getting to that point. […] I think it’s best to work with your body and with your mental side on how you approach things. And I think [it’s important] just to be patient in that journey, because it can be very frustrating when you see someone who has achieved more than you at a younger age. […] Trust in the process and just focus on your own journey.

Coetzé: [Do] not put others on too much of a pedestal. It’s fine to look up to people, but I would say don’t think of them as greater than yourself because they’re just like you, and they were also a kid that wanted to make it and wanted to win a medal or whatever. So put yourself on that same level because that’s who you are. We’re all just human beings trying to do that.

Du Plessis: My advice would be to work hard and be disciplined. It’s easy to skip training when you’re tired or not feeling motivated, but that’s when bad habits start. You need to build good habits and stay consistent, even when it gets tough. Don’t see training as a sacrifice; it’s just part of the journey. Surround yourself with like-minded people – a good training group helps a lot in keeping each other motivated.

Davis: I’d say keep your head down and keep grafting. Try not to listen to people around you who aren’t giving you good advice, but do listen to those who support you and keep you going. Stay grounded, keep working on your goals, and remember that the sky’s the limit. Anything can happen – you just have to keep driving. I got my first national team cap in January, and six months later, I was at the Olympics. Times get tough, but that’s what gets you through the hard times in the future. Just keep going, and you’ll get what you deserve in the end.

Roux: It sounds cliché, but work hard and consistently. The performance for archery doesn’t come immediately. It is constant work over the years that all builds up. And never give up. It won’t always go according to plan, but keep going.

In the spotlight of the 2024 Olympics, UP’s athletes demonstrated resilience, determination, and a passion for their sports. From overcoming challenges to savouring personal triumphs, each athlete shared unique highlights and sources of inspiration. They emphasised the importance of staying focused, maintaining discipline, and surrounding oneself with supportive influences. Their journeys serve as a testament to the power of perseverance, reminding aspiring Olympians that with hard work and the right mindset, anything is possible. PDBY looks forward to following each of their bright careers.

 

Jason Visser
view posts
view posts