Since its inception in 2013, Varsity Sports has been at the forefront of creating a platform for athletes at university level.
Through the relationship with the University Sports Company (USC) and the affiliated universities, Varsity Sports has been able to offer athletes in various sports disciplines the opportunity to compete against their peers, and perform at a high and professional level.
Looking back at the recent Olympic Games, many of the athletes came through their respective university structures, such as Wayde van Niekerk (UFS-Kovsies), Akani Simbini (UP-Tuks), Caster Semenya (previously UP-Tuks, now NWU-Puk), Rushwahl Samaai (UJ) and Justine Palframan (Maties). They have also participated at the Varsity Athletics competitions, which take place in the first half of the year.
“Varsity Athletics is so exciting and fun, and the team element gives it another dimension,” said South Africa’s golden girl Caster Semenya. “Varsity Athletics is not only the breeding ground for our future champions but also gives a great opportunity and exposure to our current champions.”
Looking ahead to Tokyo 2020, many athletes draw inspiration from those who participated at Rio 2016.
“Last year (2015) we saw a young Wayde van Niekerk of Kovsies flourish on the world stage, going on to run an incredible 43.48 seconds in the 400m to win gold at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing,” said Varsity Sports CEO, Duitser Bosman. “This year we witnessed how he smashed the world record at the Rio Olympic Games in just 43.03 seconds. Meanwhile, Caster Semenya continued her comeback and won gold in the women’s 800m in Rio and Akani Simbine has put South African sprinters back on the map, finishing just a third of a second behind the bronze medal winner.
“We are always looking at ways to lay a foundation for our talented athletes to show their skills and develop their raw talent, by competing in a professional environment for the whole country to see,” Bosman concluded.
Varsity Sports would like to congratulate every athlete who participated at the Rio Olympics, with a special mention to those who received a medal. Through university sports, we hope to see a lot more talent in Tokyo competing with the best, to be the best.
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