What I'm AFTR...
I'm a 19-year-old track athlete from Potch, running the 100m hurdles and sprints. I first stepped onto the track when I was 7-years-old, and since then, running has shaped me into who I am today.
For me, track is more than just lanes and finish lines. It's a place where I have learned discipline, resilience, and what it means to chase something bigger than myself.
I've been blessed with an incredible support system - my family and coach, who have been with me from the very beginning. They've celebrated my victories but more importantly they've stood by me through the hardest parts of this journey.
There have been hard parts. I've battled injuries that tried to take me out of this sport: stress fractures, pulled muscles and a serious back injury keeping me away from training for 9 months. This past year l faced another kind of challenge, my mental health and motivation.
I made the choice to step away from competing this season, to keep training but give myself the space I needed. It was one of the hardest choices, but also one of the best. It taught me that sometimes strength is not about pushing harder it's about pausing, listening and rebuilding.
My mindset has shifted over the years. I've realised that l am stronger than I thought, and that being able to push my body is not something I should take for granted.
I run because I love it, because it makes me feel alive, and because every hurdle on the track and in life has taught me that growth comes from the chase itself.
I am not only chasing medals or times. I'm chasing the version of myself who refuses to give up, no matter what stands in her way.
That's my story. That's what I'm AFTR
~ Sandri Van Rooyen
Instagram - @sandri_van_rooyen