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As the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup approaches, Africa is set to shine with two powerhouse teams: Namibia, the Nkosi Cup champions, and South Africa, the African champions. In this episode, I sit down with Sunelle Ludwig, the dynamic captain who led the Namibian women’s team to victory at the Nkosi Cup and is now gearing up for her third Indoor Hockey World Cup in Croatia.
Sunelle shares her excitement about representing Namibia on the global stage, reflecting on her journey through the World Cup tournaments, the triumphs and challenges that shaped her path. From her first steps into hockey to becoming a captain and leader, she opens up about her approach to team dynamics, leadership, and what it means to carry the hopes of a nation.
We dive deep into Sunelle's inspiring personal story—her growth through setbacks, from not making the first team at university to overcoming doubts and pushing herself beyond limits. With 2025 shaping up to be a monumental year—featuring a World Cup, a wedding, a full-time career in bookkeeping, and a return to university for financial management studies—Sunelle reflects on how she balances it all with grace and determination.
The post Sunelle Ludwig – From Nkosi Cup Glory to the World Cup Stage first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Having begun her sporting journey as a paraswimmer, Charlotte Henshaw represented Great Britain for over a decade across three Paralympic Games, bagging silver and bronze medals for swimming. Until she found her way into paracanoe and won the paracanoe world championship ten times. Winning gold at Tokyo 2020, was followed by Charlottes incredible double gold win at Paris 2024 where she competed in the inaugural VL3 event (watch here). For her services to canoeing she was awarded an MB in the 2021 New Years Honours List.
In this episode, Charlotte and I dive deep into her incredible journey to Paris, where she made history by winning double gold at the World Championships and then repeating that triumph at the Paris Games. But this wasn't just about victory—it was about the whispered dreams of an athlete, the intense pressure of competition, and the courage it took to break barriers as a woman and as the first-ever double gold para athlete in canoeing. We explore the highs, and the profound sense of grief that accompanies standing on the podium, only to return home 24 hours later to face the post-Paris blues—a reality many athletes know all too well.
Charlotte's mantra for Paris was simple yet powerful: “Be Courageous.” We unpack how this mindset, shaped by her partnership with a new sports psychologist just 10 weeks before Pairs, helped her navigate pressure, and inner fear. Her journey holds invaluable lessons for all of us, offering practical tools to confront our own challenges and fears.
But Charlotte’s story doesn’t end there. She opens up about her personal battle with endometriosis—a condition affecting millions of women worldwide—and the eight long years it took to receive her diagnosis.
The post Charlotte Henshaw – Paracanoe’s Gold Champion first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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The second edition of the inaugural PSI Nkosi Cup tournament is on our doorstep and joining me to talk all things indoor hockey is Spar South African Women’s indoor hockey captain, Jamie Southgate. As captain of the national team, Jamie has led the team to being crowned the 2024 African champions at the 2024 Africa Cup world cup qualifiers. Nearing 100 caps for the national side, Jamie has stood tall as a formidable part of the team.
The journey to greatness is never a straight line, and for South African Women’s Indoor Hockey captain, Jamie Southgate, it’s been a story of resilience, leadership, and triumph against the odds. In this episode, we dive deep into Jamie's remarkable journey, from her hockey beginnings at just nine years old to standing on the brink of her 100th cap for the national team.
Jamie has led her squad to historic heights, including the unforgettable achievement of being crowned African Champions at the 2024 Africa Cup World Cup qualifiers—a victory 10 years in the making. But beyond the accolades, it’s Jamie’s personal story that truly inspires. In 2019, at just 21 years old, Jamie faced the unimaginable, brain surgery for a tumour. With incredible courage and determination, she was back on the field just weeks after a five-hour operation, proving that true strength lies in the heart. I also ask her about her unique style of captaincy, the unity between the team, the leaders within the squad and the feeling in the team ahead of this weekend’s tournament.
The post Jamie Southgate – A Journey of Triumph first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Ahead of the Cape Town Sevens series this weekend, I am thrilled to be joined by the captain of the Canadian women’s 7’s team, and Olympic silver medallist Olivia Apps. Olivia is a two – time Olympian, and this year she led the first ever Canadian women’s team to an Olympic final. She has also participated in two Rugby 7’s world cups, two commonwealth games, a rugby 15’s world cup and has been involved in the Rugby 7’s world series for the past 6 years. She also made the Women’s Seven’s dream team of the year as chosen by World Rugby.
On the podcast, Olivia and I dive deep into the Olympic silver win in Paris this year. With the team claiming a place on the podium and writing history, the reinvention of the team since Tokyo in 2021 has been a journey of intensity. Olivia takes us into that journey, and how the team rebuilt. Speaking through the hard times, we get a powerful, inside view of the years that Canada came 11th or even 3rd, and how working through the years with goals in mind was key to where the team has evolved to today. While she may be missing the Dubai and Cape Town sevens, Olivia shares with us about the players who will be getting a change to step into the team and grow on the world stage. We discuss what the Paris win means for women’s rugby in Canada, and how Olivia chooses to lead her team as a captain who inspires the players around her to be their most true selves. Personally, we also talk about alopecia, and Olivia’s outlook on her life since her diagnosis at a very young age.
The post Olivia Apps – Rugby’s Authentic Leader first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Kate Christowitz is a retired Olympic rower with a passion for building equity in rowing, for women. As the chair of the athletes Commission for RowSA, Kate is also a dedicated coach who loves sharing her knowledge for rowing with young athletes. She is also the director of rowing at St. Stithians College where she maintains and develops the rowing fleet.
In this episode, Kate shares her journey from discovering rowing as a young girl at St Mary’s to becoming an Olympian, highlighting the transformative power of sport and community. We dive into the Women in Rowing initiative, a movement uniting women across South Africa to tackle key issues in the sport and celebrate their shared passion. From the first event in Joburg, to exciting plans for provincial gatherings, we discuss how this vibrant community is growing and making waves. Discover the camaraderie, resilience, and connection that define rowing, as Kate shares stories from her career and her work with young athletes, and the joy we felt at seeing Paige compete in the 2024 Olympics.
Whether you’re a seasoned rower, a coach, a supporter, or just curious about the sport, Kate Christowitz also provides all the details on how to join and become a part of this growing community for women in rowing.
The post Kate Christowitz – Building Community in Women’s Rowing first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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This year Red Bull King of the Air has created its first ever Women’s Division in this premier kitesurfing competition which always features the best athletes from around the world. We will get to witness a unique showcase of female talent and athleticism in this historic event that is sure to be a game changer for women’s big air. Joining me to talk about the upcoming competition and her journey as one of the participants is Jasmine Cho. Born in Korea, raised in the U.S and now considering Blouberg as her home base, Jasmine has been a big air kitesurfer for a number of years, with prestigious events behind her name.
On the podcast we talk about her journey from being a film director in New York City, to fully dedicating herself and her time, to the sport of kitesurfing. Having applied for King of the Air three times in the past, Jasmine Cho always believed in the need for women’s inclusion in Big Air and with this year’s competition, she talks about the meaning of this inclusion for women, and the effect this will have on other competitions. We talk about her recent crash in Brazil, and dealing with the process of the fear factor following her fall, and how she is embracing this as part of the journey. We unpack the wind factor in Cape Town and how she is acclimatising to the denser wind conditions that Cape Town offers. Among the female competitors, Jasmine lets us in on the support for one another and the unique sisterhood and friendships that have formed through competition, and how being on the big air circuit has created a unique energy among the women.
The post Jasmine Cho – Queen of the Air first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Michaela Leonard is the current Wallaroos Captain and is one of the most experienced player sin Australian history, with 32 test caps to her name. She took over the captaincy in 2023 and has led her side to victory in the WXV2 tournament that recently wrapped up in Cape Town.
On the podcast, we discuss the WXV2 tournament and the journey leading up to it. Michaela opens up about the mindset the team had at the start, their goals of maintaining their world ranking, and ultimately aiming to win the WXV2 title. We dive into the crucial warm-up games against Ireland and Wales, and how those matches shaped the team's learnings and prepared them for the upcoming challenges in Cape Town. As captain, Michaela shares her ongoing leadership journey, highlighting the strength that comes from collaboration. She also gives a special nod to the strong leadership surrounding her, underscoring how empowering each other is key to the team's success.
In a fascinating twist, Michaela also reflects on her transition from basketball to rugby and how she went from never watching a rugby union game to now becoming a key figure in a sport she truly loves.
The post Michaela Leonard – Australia’s Passionate Rugby Captain first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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The Women's T20 Cricket World Cup may be over, but the emotions are still running high. Join me this week as I dive deep into the heart of the Proteas campaign with Mieke de Ridder, the talented wicketkeeper and right-hand batter for the Proteas. She made her international debut for the national team over a year ago against Pakistan and was part of the world cup squad that just wrapped up their campaign in Dubai.
From the historic semi-final victory against Australia to the heartbreak of the final loss against New Zealand, we unpack the moments and experiences that defined the team's journey. Mieke opens up about the profound impact of these experiences on the team and cricket fans alike, offering her personal perspective on coping with triumph and disappointment. We also get straightforward about how we both dealt with disappointment from opposite sides of the game, as a lover of the game and as a player.
Curious about the five individuals Mieke de Ridder honoured on her shirt? Want to know how she discovered her passion for wicketkeeping? And who are some of the individuals she credits with helping her grow into the confident player she is today? Tune in as we explore these questions and more in a conversation that goes beyond the scoreboard. Hit play and relive the unforgettable moments of the World Cup with us!
The post Mieke de Ridder – Beyond the World Cup first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Few can boast a trailblazing road like triathlete and mountain biking champion, Hannele Steyn. Having achieved Springbok colours in biathlon, duathlon, triathlon, road cycling and mountain biking, she is also one of only four individuals to have completed all 20 Cape epic mountain biking events. She has also taken the win in over 15 stages, and the All-African Women’s trophy proudly bears her name. She has represented South Africa in 10 world championships, 11 triathlon world cups and 9 mountain biking world cups.
In this episode, Hannele Steyn opens up about her remarkable career and the challenges she faced.Born with a hole in her heart and having heard from her teachers that despite her love of sport she lacked the talent to achieve anything significant, Hannele shares how these obstacles fuelled her fire. Discover how this ignited her passion and resilience, and learn why she believes that selfishness can be either a virtue or a vice.
We delve into her love for teaching and mentoring women in mountain biking, the transformative impact of the #sheuntamed initiative empowering more women to take up mountain biking, and she shares her thoughts on the recent 2025 Cape Epic route launch. With wisdom, joy, and a contagious passion for life, Hannele’s story will inspire you to chase your dreams and uplift those around you. Tune in for a conversation that promises to motivate, educate, and celebrate the spirit of athleticism!
The post Hannele Steyn – Blazing a Trail first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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This week's episode of She Speaks Sport, dives deep into the heart and mind of top order Proteas batter Tazmin Brits, just as the thrilling 2024 ICC T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup kicks off in the vibrant heat of Dubai. As South Africa prepares to face the West Indies tomorrow, there’s no shortage of excitement and anticipation surrounding this tournament.
In our heartfelt conversation, Tazmin opens up about the unique challenges of competing in the U.A.E., conditions unfamiliar to all ten teams. She shares her strategies for navigating the pressures of World Cup competition, including the routines she has developed to foster her mental resilience and navigating social media during the tournament. Reflecting on 2023's historic semi-final victory over England and the subsequent clash with Australia, Tazmin reflects on the invaluable lessons learned from those historic, moving moments.
This episode also touches on a deeply personal note, Tazmin's mother, Zeldine, her unwavering supporter, is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and won’t be in the stands this time. Tazmin Brits discusses how this impacts her mindset and how mindfulness has become a vital part of her preparation for the upcoming matches. Tune in for an inspiring conversation with one of the key Proteas players as she embarks on this pivotal World Cup journey. Don’t miss this important and enlightening conversation on She Speaks Sport.
The post Tazmin Brits – 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
