After 19 years of unwavering dedication and representing South Africa on international stages, she’s off to become a doctor!
Johannesburg, South Africa (26 September 2025) – If you follow gymnastics in Gauteng and in South Africa, you’ve likely heard the name Nkazi Matyolo. She walked through the Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre’s doors at only 3 years old, tiny but fearless, and 19 years later, she’s leaving to start a new chapter, having made her mark as an SA athlete.
Nkazi has spent most of her life training, competing, and representing SA with pride. She received her senior South African colours in May 2023 for Artistic Gymnastics. She went on to fly the SA flag high at the World Challenge Cups in Israel and Hungary, and she’s competed internationally in Belgium, Germany, Namibia, and the USA.
With the support of her coaches and family, she showed up at the gym every day, dedicated, kind, and always ready. It’s the kind of unwavering commitment that carried her even beyond her schooling years at St Stithians and into adulthood.
Now, she’s about to take on her next big challenge, as she swaps her gymnastics grips for scrubs, and heads to medical school!
Nkazi will be joining the University of Pretoria in 2026. Medical school is no small feat, and one that requires a massive push on the academic front. She doesn’t shy away from hard work, though. Her willingness and effort as a learner shine through in anything she tackles!
“Nkazi’s hard work, fantastic work ethic and incredible resilience as a gymnast has helped her relentlessly pursue her dream of becoming a doctor & we wish her only the very, very best,” shares the Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre (JGC).
At a time when South Africa needs its bright young minds to lead, we’re excited that we’ll one day get to call Nkazi ‘Doctor’. Her family at JGC are just as proud of their shining star.
“Nkazi will remain a life long member of JGC & we will miss her in the gym, but will be following her next chapter with anticipation & lots of excitement, because we know that this is only the beginning.”
Sources: Linked above
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