At TuksSport and the High Performance Centre in Pretoria, South African athletes are able to make their dreams come true. 

But if our athletes are successful, it is not only their dreams that come true. At the Olympic Games in Rio it became abundantly clear that every medal that was won by our athletes gave South Africans a sense of pride. The belief of South Africans in the ‘Rainbow Nation’ soared and in a united South Africa anything seemed possible.

It’s no wonder that Professor Cheryl de la Rey (Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Pretoria) said at the UP Olympians Celebration held on the 13^th September 2016 in honour of the Tuks/HPC Olympians that their achievements, as well as the achievements of athletes in the rest of South Africa, came at a time when South Africa is facing its first serious turning point since 1994.

“There are many fractures and fault lines in our society which also affect our universities. We have seen what began as a unified rally against the rising cost of university education morph into divisive and destructive protests.

“In a context such as this, sport can really play an important role of contributing positively towards social cohesion and national pride,” De la Rey said.

“When our athletes are successful we can see our diverse society coming together. Our Olympians became symbols of who we are and what we are capable of as a nation when we are united in our desire for achievement.

“Each and every Olympian can testify to the challenges of making choices such as practising and training for hours instead of, perhaps, socializing with friends.”

De la Rey went on to urge the Olympians to share their stories, especially by telling their fellow athletes about the importance of discipline, sacrifice and focus.

“Our country’s youth might just take note when their heroes tell them that success cannot be achieved without hard work and personal responsibility.

“Quite a few of our athletes had to combine the challenge of full-time study and preparing for the Olympic Games. In doing so, they set an excellent example of maintaining a healthy balance between mind and body and the holistic development towards which we strive at the university.”

Prof De la Rey has good reason to be proud. Since 1992, the year South Africa was readmitted to participate in international sports, students of the University of Pretoria have been making South Africans proud with their exploits at major sporting events.

The recent Olympic Games in Rio again confirmed the truth of this statement. Of the ten medals won by South Africa, three were due to the hard work and perseverance of the Tuks/HPC athletes and their coaches.

At the previous Games in London (2012) the Tuks/HPC athletes won three of South Africa’s six medals. Since 1992 nearly a third of the 35 medals won at the Olympic Games were due to the never-give-up attitude of the Tuks/HPC athletes and coaches.

Shaun Keeling, silver medallist in rowing, is an excellent example. He admitted to nearly quitting in 2010 and 2012 but in the end his hunger for success prevailed.

“It is has been a long and sometimes hard journey but in the end every second was worth it. The feeling you get when you are standing on an Olympic podium to receive your medal is indescribable. It is truly a dream come true.”