Onthatile “Thati” Zulu is a rising star in field hockey with her sights set on the Olympics; she is perfecting her training and working hard to fly the South African flag!
South Africa (09 July 2024) – Onthatile “Thati” Zulu is a field hockey rising star with a bright future in the sport. Having landed a major sponsor to boost her career, Thati has spent a great deal of time perfecting her field game at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre (APC) nestled in the heart of Austria, just outside Salzburg.
Since joining the growing number of South African athletes in getting major sponsorship, she has receieved support and resources that will supercharge her sporting prowess. She has been training hard, with her sights set on the future.
“I got picked up every morning from the hotel to the APC. On some days I had breakfast before my first session, other days I had to skip breakfast to get accurate results from my testing. I usually had 4 to 5 sessions per day, which were spread out quite nicely.”
“It varied quite a lot,” shares Zulu. “I also had some physiotherapy sessions to treat some of my muscles that were fatigued throughout the testing. My day usually ended around 17:00.”
Focus on the physical is a major part of any athletes career. For Thati, her ankle strength has been a place where she has needed to focus more, especially to prevent injury which could be detremental to her career.
With the Olympics around the corner, the trip has been a hugely beneficial one for Thati.
“I’ve been adding exercises to my current programme to prevent any injuries and to make sure I’m in form by the time the Olympics come,” Zulu explained.
“The team was so helpful and had my best interests at heart,” she said. “It was cool to work with people who wanted to push you to your limit and saw potential in you. I felt like I could do anything with the support they had given me. They also gave me tips that I’ve been able to take back home.”
She is excited to revolutionise her training program back home in South Africa. Its all looking bright and promsing! Well done Thati!
“I’ve already started using some of the exercises and techniques they’ve given me (based on the testing) and I have modified certain things in my programme to make sure it’s best suited for me to improve gradually,” she explained.
This proactive approach highlights her dedication to continuous improvement and excellence in her sport.
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 