Discover Sport is giving back through its Foundation, supporting athletes who have earned national selection but lack the financial means to compete internationally.
Johannesburg, South Africa (13 November 2025) – Just months after its launch, Discover Sport is already making waves! Not just as a sport-tech social media platform, but as a force for good through its Discover Sport Foundation. The Foundation was created to financially support talented athletes who have earned the right to compete internationally but lack the resources to make it happen. In essence, it is about understanding their privilege and giving back.
In many underfunded sporting markets, exceptional athletes are often overlooked. Support structures are slow to develop, sponsorships are scarce without media exposure, and sports grants can fall short. The Discover Sport Foundation seeks to fill that gap, helping athletes apply for funding with confidence so they can showcase their talent on the world stage.
Leigh Watson, Founding Director of the Discover Sport Foundation, explains the motivation behind it.
“Finance can be a dismal road for aspiring sports stars who want nothing more than their fair shot at the win. We’ve witnessed families take loans, parents putting their retirement at risk and athletes walking away from once-in-a-lifetime international stages because of financial constraints. The Discover Sport Foundation is seeking to change that for the good. Intentionally, sustainably and meaningfully.”
Leigh knows the struggle firsthand. As a former National Champion and Springbok gymnast competing internationally between 1987 and 1994, she has lived the reality of balancing talent, discipline, and financial pressure.
“This Foundation exists for these human moments.”
A recent highlight for the Foundation was supporting 16-year-old Vaulting athlete Ashley Lupondo from Zimbabwe, who travelled to Austria for the Junior Equestrian Vaulting World Championships.
“Sport is the world’s most inclusive language, but sadly opportunity has not been evenly accessible. It’s stories like Ashley’s that really add meaning to that feeling of world-class participation.”
Other inspiring Foundation stories this year include South African trampoline athletes competing at the FIG Trampoline World Championships in Spain. Since its launch, the Discover Sport Foundation has supported 66 athletes and coaches, ensuring funding and confidence reach those who need it most. A portion of Discover Sport’s platform revenue flows directly into the Foundation to maintain sustainability and integrity.
Watson sums up why this matters.
“This is bigger than one athlete. Bigger than one sport. Bigger than any outcome. This is about rewriting what access can look like for vaulting, trampoline, hockey, judo, MTB, climbing, ice skating and sports that may never dominate headlines, but will still inevitably shape futures, and national pride.”
Athletes who meet the Foundation’s criteria can apply for funding on their website.
Sources: Supplied
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