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'I want to achieve what Zeney has achieved' - Tumi Ramokgopa

Writer's picture: Mosibodi WhiteheadMosibodi Whitehead

Updated: Jan 30

While world and Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and her rival Dutch track queen, Femke Bol, may seem the obvious choices for an idol for any young female 400m hurlder, ASA female rising star Tumi Ramokgopa looks up to national champion Zeney Geldenhuys. Ramokgopa is unperturbed by the fact that she often competes for the same titles with Geldenhuys because she doesn't see the Olympian as her rival. Instead, she's keen to learn from the 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist.


"I'm inspired by Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Sydney is a woman who believes in God and I put all my faith in God. But I look up to Zeney. She has played a crucial role in my career. I always look forward to learning from her and hope to achieve what she has achieved in her career," she told #TheTopRunner.


Ramakgopa enjoyed a fabulous 2024 season during which she even won a senior race. Ramakgopa defeated the likes of Daniela Ledeka of Poland to win the third ASA Grand Prix Meet of 2024 as a sixteen year old. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.
Ramakgopa enjoyed a fabulous 2024 season during which she even won a senior race. Ramakgopa defeated the likes of Daniela Ledeka of Poland to win the third ASA Grand Prix Meet of 2024 as a sixteen year old. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

The Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) sprinter scooped the female rising star award at the Athletics South Africa Awards at Montecasino on January 25 after a stellar 2024 where she won the Girls U18 400m hurdles and 100m hurdles national titles at Pilditch Stadium before grabbing an unexpected bronze in a personal best 57.04 at the ASA Senior Track and Field Championships at Msunduzi Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. The Prestige College matriculant also represented the country at the World Athletics Youth Championships in Lima in August and Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) champs in Cameroon in June.


"This award means a lot. It's for all the time I've spent in the sport. I've dedicated 11 years of my life. I had a long and tough season, balancing track and school. But it was all worth it. All my commitment, dedication and time management with everything I did paid off. I'm doing it again this year and hopefully I could be among the top athletes in the world," said the young woman who finished the 2024 season as the fastest U18 400m hurdler in the world.


Ramakgopa (far right) wins the bronze medal behind Geldenhuys and Rogail Joseph at the 2024 ASA Senior Track & Field Championships. Photo Credit: Lifutso Mabua.
Ramakgopa (far right) wins the bronze medal behind Geldenhuys and Rogail Joseph at the 2024 ASA Senior Track & Field Championships. Photo Credit: Lifutso Mabua.

And while she knows it won’t be an easy task, the 17-year old is willing to do whatever it takes to become one of the best in her discipline and she's prepared to put in the work. "I tell myself every day that I have to be 1% better than I was yesterday. I motivate myself in every kind of way and want to be where my idols are. As long as I'm still not ahead of them, I will push myself to be where I want to be," she said.


Next up for the youngster is the small matter of defending her titles at the ASA youth and junior track and field champs in Cape Town in March and improving on her third place from last year's senior championships. "I'm also going to be in a few national teams. I'm going to represent my country again this year. It's going to be tough since I'm in Matric but I know I can do it."

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