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Whenever black excellence in the spors fraternity is discussed, hardly anyone in SA, not even the most hard core Olympic sport fan, would think to bring up hammer throw.
This is a code more often associated with burly, stocky Russians, yet a young man from Sasolburg, Free State, has pushed his way into the sport and up the ranks.
Hammer throw is one of those sporting codes that black people were legislated out of, until the advent of democracy.
Tshepang Makhethe, 24, has taken full advantage of the serendipitous timing of his birth, where he has the access and opportunities to challenge local icon Chris Harmse and the records he has set in his lengthy career.
Makhethe even managed to slightly loosen Harmse’s stranglehold on the sport last year, launching a 72.25m throw to win and relegating Harmse, 45, who pioneered the Hammer Academy in Sasolburg to second place.
“Growing up, I was a sporty child and did pretty much everything. I tried everything but had an affinity for field events. My dad was a soccer player and my mom was a volley ball player and high jump in college,” Makhethe says.
“I first saw hammer throwing in the 2008 Olympics and it was a challenge for me. I was lucky enough that my parents were behind me financially, and were able to send me to a sport-focused high school.”
Makhethe, who stands at 1,89m, says factors like non-exposure and how difficult it can be to make a living from this sport may deter more people from pursuing it.
“It can be a lucrative career if you are good enough. Athletics is so result-oriented and extremely competitive. It is also different from being from being a sprinter, for instance, many events would pay more attention and give more exposure to track and the sponsors gravitate towards that. In Europe, it’s the opposite, so you have to consistently do well to be able to frequently compete there,” Makhethe says.
“But at home, we can change our people’s mind-set; it’s not just about 100m and 400m – athletics is a multitude of events. For me, the throws are poetry in motion, there is no field event quite like it."
SA has never reached an Olympics final in his code and Makhethe is keen to change that.
“I’m working really hard towards that. It is a goal that we have – to be the country’s first Olympic finalist," he says.
Makhethe is among a growing list of local success stories that have chosen the ‘off the beaten track’ route, such as:
Thabo Sefolosha (Basketball)
The 36-year-old is a National Basketball Association (NBA) small guard. He was born to a Swiss mother and South African father. He plays for the Houston Rockets, the latest on a journey that has included the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder and Atlanta Hawks. He is both the first SA and Swiss player in the best basketball league in the world.
Khololwam Montsi (Tennis)
The 17-year-old made quite a splash at the French Open Juniors in Paris this month, and although he was eliminated in the second round, if he continues to improve, he could be sitting on the cusp of a true legacy in one of the more exclusive and expensive sports in the world.
Mpho Gift Ngoepe (Baseball)
The 30-year old is the first African to reach the pinnacle of baseball that is the U.S Major Leagues. He plays for Brisbane Bandits in Australia.
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