Jodi brings home gold from obstacle world champs

ATTRACTING the best athletes from more than 70 countries around the world, the Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) World Championships is the ultimate test for any athlete competing in obstacle course racing. The sport requires you to regularly crawl, lift and swing through obstacles in the fastest time covers different formats, including 3km, 15km, team event and 100 metres.

It’s the ultimate challenge and one in which Durban North resident, Jodi Davidson, recently triumphed.

Davidson won gold for South Africa at this year’s championships in her age group (18-24) in London over the 15km distance. Impressively she came fifth across all age groups at the champs in incredibly tough conditions.

A member of Adventure Obstacle Training (AOT) team in Durban, the local resident said she had a point to prove after a potentially career ending injury at the OCR champs last year.

“Last year I travelled to London for my OCR World Champs and I was competing across the various formats but I was halfway through the 15km event when disaster struck. I was in the top three in my age group and I was on an obstacle called ‘Stairway to Heaven’. It’s an A shaped obstacle that requires you to climb over. I slipped and fell from a height and I landed badly. I ended up breaking my tibia, fibula and dislocating my ankle in the fall.

“I spent a week in hospital in London and I remember telling my boyfriend that I was coming back this year to win the medal.

“I spent about four or five months out of the sport but not once did I feel I wasn’t capable of making a comeback. I worked hard with my coaches at AOT, Claude and Trish Eksteen, and with my strength coach, Shilo Ramden and mentally I was ready for the champs. The conditions didn’t make my comeback any easier as it was very muddy and wet. Overall around 70 per cent of the competitors in my age group didn’t complete the 15km course. I must admit approaching the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ this time around gave me some trepidation but once I began climbing I put the doubt to the back of my mind,” she explained.

Davidson said the sweetest moment for her was crossing the finish line.

“I felt I was in a good position but you don’t really know until your times are displayed on the board. Crossing that finish line was a very special and emotional moment for me because of all the hard work I’d put in before leaving Durban. When I was injured the doctor said it would take me six months before I could walk again and he was amazed when I defied the odds.

“Mentally and physically I feel I’m ready for any obstacle life has for me,” the determined athlete said.

The former Danville Park Girls’ High School learner moves up an age group at next year’s OCR champs and said she aims to secure a podium finish once again.

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