South African sprinter Petunia Obisi has run many races locally and internationally, but it has always been her ultimate dream to grace the biggest sporting evening in the world – the Olympic Games.
That dream was on the way to reality when she was named in the provisional squad for the South African team for the 2020 Olympics Games – only for the games to be moved to July next year due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
“The postponement was really devastating, but there is nothing we can do about it,” Obisi comments. “It is a world crisis, and this is the sacrifice we must all make.”
University students were evacuated prior to the national lockdown, so the final-year Bachelor of Arts student at the University of the Western Cape has been at home in Johannesburg for the duration. But she hasn’t lost hope, and has vowed to continue working hard to stay fit and in good shape.
“It was a bit demotivating going back home, because I can’t even jog 50 metres,” she says. “It’s a bit challenging, but it’s something that really needs to be done. I’m fortunate because I have some equipment at home. My late brother was a sports person and invested a lot in sport equipment.”
When the postponement was announced, Obisi and other women athletes in the provision squad had just returned from a welcoming session, which gave her an opportunity to mix and mingle with top athletes around the country.
“It was a great atmosphere, being surrounded by the likes of Simon Magakwe and all of these up-and-coming athletes, and people who have already made it in athletics,’ Obisi remarks. “It was a bit intimidating — but at the same time also gave me even more motivation to work even harder.”
A Running Start & Accelerating Athletic Achievement
Obisi actually got her sporting start as a netball player, but ended up in athletics — just like her older sister, Rita. But it wasn’t love at first try.
“I hated everything about athletics,” she recalls. “I hated the training; it was tough. But, at the end of the day, when you give yourself time, you end up enjoying what you are doing.”
Her performance over the years speaks volumes about the power of passion (and talent).
She was only 14 years old when she made it to the national championships in the Under-17 category. And in 2016 she was selected to represent South Africa at the African University Championships, now known as USSA. She came home with a gold medal and repeated the feat at the Southern Africa Athletics Championships in Zimbabwe a year later. She is currently the Western Province Champion and is ranked seventh in 100 metres and 10th in 200 metres in South Africa.
She was also among a number of select athletes from South Africa who jetted off to Europe to take part in the European Season in June and July last year, competing with top athletes from around the globe.
“The Season is about opportunities and money, because there is no money in South Africa. It is good exposure and also provides a second chance to qualify for big competitions that are coming up,” says Obisi.
Like many students, Obisi has found it tough to find a balance between sport and studies.
“As sportspeople, we tend to devote most of our attention to our sporting careers rather than academics,” she acknowledges. “It’s difficult to find the balance sometimes, but we must keep on trying.”
Unathi’s story can be found in Issue 3 of the Cape At 6 magazine, alongside many other tales of amazing sporting men and women. Why not give them a read?
