Matric learner Katlego ‘Karate Dlamini’ worked profoundly hard to get to her international karate championship in the hopes she’d represent South Africa well. We’re proud to report that she certainly did and juggled matric at the same time!
Global (29 September 2024) — Earlier this year, Katlego ‘Karate’ Dlamini hopped on Good Things Guy’s radar when she earned the chance to take part in a massive international karate competition—the World Goju Ryu Karate Championships.
Not only would the competition mean her very first time overseas, it would also mean the chance to cut her teeth in her sport at a prestigious level, all while making her home country proud. However, with her matric year hanging in the balance; the timing of her participation was a challenge all its own.
But, the determined student of martial arts was ready to take on the heat, and so she did—exceptionally, we might add.
More than 1,000 athletes, judges and officials from 30 nations took part in the competition held in Fürstenfeld and Bad Loipersdorf amid the picturesque landscapes of Steyr, Austria, for the 2024 run.
Here, Katlego competed fiercely and ultimately secured third place in her category (U/21 Female Kumite—68kg), claiming bronze!
Even more impressively, Katlego did all this whilst navigating her academic demands with the support of her school, beaming in her corner.
“We were able to draw up an individual timetable for Katlego to write her examinations when she returned from Austria. This ensured a balance between fair preparation time and compliance with the GDE timelines for the submission of her marks,” explains SPARK Randburg High principal, Maartin Kotze whi is also a big influence in Katlego’s life.
With the confidence of bronze in the boot, Katlego now has a new feat in mind—smashing matric. However, she’s already planning on taking part in the 2026 run of the karate champs, filled with the thrill of the competition and hungry for more.
“I was nervous but honoured to represent my country,” she shares. “The experience was amazing, and I couldn’t ask for anything better. Travelling overseas was amazing, seeing the difference between regional and national competitions was a mind-blowing experience.”
“What carried me through this exciting time were two of SPARK’s core values – Persistence and Achievement,” she adds.
“As a school, and as a network, I don’t think we could be any prouder of her. The fact that she lives out our core values, not only inside the school but also outside, on the international playing field, is just a testimony of the type of scholar SPARK envisions to send out into the world,” adds Maartin.
“She not only represented our country, but also came back with a bronze medal, who wouldn’t celebrate international success?”