'I told myself that nothing is gonna stop me from doing what I love' -More medals for Tumi Ramokgopa

At just 15 years old, Tumi Ramokgopa has achieved what would take many athletes an entire career to get right. This year alone the Prestige College learner won gold in the 400m hurdles at the South African U18 Championships, the African 400m and 100m hurdles titles and last week she went one better by picking up two medals on the global stage. Ramokgopa claimed a pair of bronze medals in the 400m and 100m hurdles at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago where Team SA finished with a total of twenty medals (seven gold, six silver and seven bronze). Asked about the secret to her success, the Grade 10 pupil responded with a maturity beyond her years.

Ramokgopa poses with the pair of bronze medals she won at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August, 2023. Photo Credit: SASCOC Media.

"There actually is no secret," she told #TheTopRunner. "I just dedicated myself to something I love doing and I told myself that nothing is gonna stop me from doing what I love. I put all my hard work, all my commitment and dedication into that and the results of that are really surprising me. It's all about the progress and not the perfection."

Having clocked 13.53s in the 100m hurdles and 1:00.63s in the 400m hurdles event to earn her medals, Ramokgopa showed amazing versatility. In fact having started out as a long jumper, the youngster who is coached by George Bradley manages to balance the stamina required for the long hurdles with the spring and speed needed over the shorter distance. She says she as able to excel at both disciplines because of the amount of work she puts in and she does that because she simply loves running hurdles.

"The reason why I love the hurdles is because my brother was also a hurdler. It inspired me and I started training hurdles at a young age. It's a passion that I recognized when I was young so I tried to take it up and to see where it would take me. And where I am, I'm really, really proud of myself," she explained.

That love and passion has been tested in 2023, where her precocious talent saw her included in a few senior races including the ASA Senior Track and Field Championships where she took sixth overall. But Ramokgopa's best outing against the seniors came during the second ASA Athletics Grand Prix in April where she ran a lifetime best 58.69. And with two medals from the African Championships, another pair from the Commonwealth Youth Games and some encouraging performances against the seniors much is expected of this future champion. But what does she expect of herself?

Prestige College learners and teachers welcome Ramokgopa at the OR Tambo International Airport after her success at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Photo Credit: Prestige College.

"I'm looking to be a part of the senior team and representing my country at seniors again. I just want to go big. That's my dream!"