A dedicated athlete from the dusty and mountainous rural village of Tshipako, outside Thohoyandou, has recently represented Limpopo province in the National Secondary Schools Athletics Championships held at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth.

A grade 9 learner at Lucas Ratshalingwa High School in Thenzheni, Norah Ndou (19), says she felt honoured to carry the pride of the province on her shoulders. Before jetting off to PE, Norah had defied all odds to beat her counterparts in the local 400m athletics competitions. She ended first in all the elimination rounds held at Mphalaleni High School, Ha-Makuya, Musina and Polokwane to book her place in the national competition.

"This is a dream come true, since I have competed with the best crop of athletes from secondary schools across the whole of South Africa. Although I only ended fourth, I am satisfied with my performance and felt that I have represented my people very well. The competitions were tough and it is a great honour to be counted among the best ten in the country. I never thought a rural girl like me would one day go places through athletics."

Norah says she started running when she was still at primary school. "I always took the first position and realized that I had received a special gift from God. Since then, I have never looked back and my plan is to be one of the best athletes South Africa has ever produced."

Painfully, Norah does not have a sponsor and she struggles to make ends meet. "My family’s poor financial status will never stop me from realising my potential. I request community members to assist me financially, because I don’t even have proper training and competition material. I also want to belong to a club, but I do not know which channels to follow."

Because Norah does not have a mobile phone, she can be contacted through her teacher, Norman Tshikalange at 076 664 4642.