Athlete returns to the race circuit
THE South African Mining Sports Association 10km road race champion, Cattling Maepa (19) says he will return to long distance running after he took a long break due to ill health.
Desmond Boshego
LIMPOPO – THE South African Mining Sports Association 10km road race champion, Cattling Maepa (19) says he will return to long distance running after he took a long break due to ill health.
The young athlete from Driekop in Modimolle, started to compete in athletics in primary school and has represented the province in various national athletics tournaments, winning medals and trophies.
He recently competed in the Mines Rescue Services 10km road race, where he won a gold medal.
“With the hard work I put in my training sessions, anything is possible. It wasn’t difficult for me to win the medals in the previous marathons. My plan for now is to focus more on my training session, so that I can be fit enough to participate in upcoming marathons. I want to be one of the best athletes in the country and to qualify for the coming Olympics,” says Maepa.
He adds that he is inspired by athletes like Caster Semenya, Ludwick Mamabolo and the Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt.
“As a young athlete, I find it very difficult to compete without a sponsor, because I sometimes come across challenges which I cannot overcome on my own. I sometimes miss out on marathons due to a lack of information and financial difficulties,” says Maepa
