Jennifer Khwela - "Fear is the biggest obstacle" World Renowned South African gymnast, Jennifer Khwela, stretches towards her destiny - what's stopping you? Jenny, as she is commonly known among her peers, does not make an immediate impression. She's humble and doesn't hog the spotlight. But it's not difficult to pick up an oozing aura from her the minute she opens up to the fact that she is the centre of attention because of her global ranking in the world of Gymnastics. You could easily mistake her for an ordinary rural and traditional girl, who occasionally enjoys rope skipping with a couple of friends. And you wouldn’t be wrong! That's exactly who she is. An ordinary South African like the rest of us. But extraordinary in the sense that she's made her dreams come true - something lots of us still have to master. “I grew up in Umlazi before relocating to Umbilo (both in Durban). My friends and I used to do rope skipping to keep fit and healthy,” she says. “Once I had completed my chores, I would collect all my friends and we would get it on,” she continues. The former KZN Premier’s Award Junior Sportswoman of the Year winner has conquered world stages through her outstanding performances in gymnastics. And last year she had the whole world staring at her marvellous skills at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India “Every Gymnast dreams of competing at a big world stage such as the Commonwealth Games. I was fortunate to have been awarded the opportunity not only to represent my country but also to make our supporters proud,” says the pint-sized gymnast. “We put in a lot of work during our preparations for the Commonwealth Games and I am most grateful to my coach, Gail Adamson, for the support and guidance,” she enthuses. Khwela attended Durban High School for Girls for only 18 months before she had to be transferred to Westridge Girls’ High School (which is a school for learners with special educational needs). Her gymnastic talent was not evident at first but her coaches knew that her petite body structure would work well for her if she decided to pursue the sport. Raised by her grandmother, Jenny’s need for self-expression and self-sustenance grew stronger the older she got. And she found she could only fulfil those needs through gymnastics. Having competed at the Leverkusen Invitational Gymnastics in Germany, World Cup Doha in Qatar, World Championships in London and the African Championships in Namibia, Jennifer has numerous accolades to her name. She was the SA Junior Champ in 2007 and Senior Champ in both 2008 and 2009. She adds: “I was also the South African Gymnast of the year for 2008 and 2009 consecutively.” And this from a girl who had no clue what gymnastics was about before her coach showed her a gymnastics DVD. But Jenny hasn't made it this far without encountering any challenges! She had her fair share of opposing thoughts and opinions about her abilities; but has managed to overcome all those obstacles. “The most important choice that I have made was to overcome my fear,” says Khwela. “The minute I let go of my fear was the moment that I started experiencing wonders in my life. My fear could have held me back from such a blessing. I am very grateful that I did not let fear drown my blessings,” she added. The one challenge that she has to confront head on, is keeping the right weight. “Weight can have a direct impact on how I perform hence it is important for me to eat well and maintain a perfect shape,” she explains. There is still a long road to go for the Durban-born gymnast! Her story definitely proves that the most important thing that one can achieve during their youth is to find one’s life purpose. Dedicate time and energy to your life's purpose in order to make your move - and leave a mark just like Jennifer on her block. - by Levi Molefi Letsoko. Vusi Thembekwayo – "We need to be significant" Vusi Thembekwayo is not just a businessman; he is a business, man. Described by the convenors of Australia Top 16 as "the world's youngest and most impressive public speaker", Vusi is a versatile young entrepreneur – determined to leave his mark in the world. Read More
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Lunga Tilolo - Giving taxis a good name Three years ago, Lunga Tilolo from Mooiplaas in East London became a taxi driver – against his father’s wishes. Although Lunga failed Matric, his dad – a taxi owner – was adamant that he should focus on his schooling and try again. Instead, Lunga saw an opportunity in working for his dad. Read More
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