My name is Telani Grobler. I am a triathlete. I was born in a small town, Pongola, in KwaZulu-Natal. From a young age, I had a passion for sport, and achieved Provincial and National colours in a variety of sports. I now live in Centurion.
At the age of 38 (now 42) I started out doing my sport again after my divorce. Took up swimming again after 20 years. I also got introduced to triathlons, never thought where the road will take me. After about two triathlons, a friend of mine noticed my potential and encouraged me to focus rather on triathlons than swimming. He believed that he will see me on the podium and so it started… Within a year I was in the Tshwane Triathlon team.
I do what I do, to set an example to women, that there is life again after pain. That you can live your dream again. People look up to me and admire what I achieved in such a short time. It gives hope again. It inspires them to stand up again.
A typical training day will be an hour training in the morning before work, and during the day I will have another hour of training. I try to fit my training in between clients, and before my time with family at night.
I started winning numerous age group category races and then selected for the South African team and within a year and a half, I was off to African Champs where I won my age group. The same year I went to World Championships in Switzerland. I got ranked 42nd in the world, what an honour! After actually lying 8th up until the run, I got injured while running, which made me lose my spot. But what an experience. Doctors can’t believe that I finished the race, as I have sprained all my ligaments and torn a ligament in my ankle.
My dream is to be able to go to more World Champs events, to set an example to women what hard work and dedication can bring you in life. I want someone to look up at me and say, because of you, I didn’t give up.
To make this happen, I am raising funds. As part of my search for sponsors, I also want to raise money for Jumping kids, where it is my heart’s desire to be able to give one child a prosthetic blade, to give them also the dream to go further in sport.
My achievements are:
Triathlon Sprint Age Group and overall ladies winner Tshwane. Championships 2021.
Triathlon Sprint Age group winner African Championship 2019.
Triathlon Grand Final World Championship 2019.
Triathlon Sprint age group winner Gauteng Championship 2018.
Silver & Bronze medalist SA Master Championship 2018.
2022 Podium Tinman and Sun City Ultra sprint.
My achievements mean progress. I grow and get better. It shows me I achieve better things that I did not know was possible. I shows my determination and hard work. It pays off.
Women have become stronger and more confident in sport. We need sponsors to help us grow, reach our highest potential, without also stressing how to come by financially to show the world how good we can be.
My next big race is on the 25th of June 2022 at the World Championships in Montreal, Canada, and I can’t wait for this experience of representing my country.
www.backabuddy.co.za/jumping-kids-telani-grobler
Photo 1 Caption: Triathlete Telani Grobler is searching for sponsors and raising funds for para sport as she prepares to compete at the 2022 World Championships in Montreal Canada in June. Photo: Supplied
With editing by gsport
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