Olympians inspire young local rowers
ROB KNOWLES
IT was an inspirational day for the Nemato Rowing Club when two members of the gold medal Olympic lightweight four rowing team visited Port Alfred to provide a master coaching class.
James Thompson and Sizwe Ndlovu visited Port Alfred during the Youth in Motion camp last week to assist the rowing club and give a motivational talk at the Port Alfred Civic Centre to the 345 Youth in Motion participants.
Thompson and Ndlovu and their teammates Matthew Brittain and John Smith, who beat strong opposition from world champions Australia, along with favourites Denmark and Great Britain, to clinch gold at the recent London Olympics.
| GOLDEN BOYS: Two of the four-man rowing team who won gold at the 2012 London Olympics, James Thompson (front row, left) and Sizwe Ndlovu (front row, right), took time out from their busy schedule to coach members of the Nemato Rowing Club on the Kowie River last week Picture: ROB KNOWLES |
Stenden South Africa arranged for Thompson and Ndluvo to visit Port Alfred and assist in a coaching clinic with the boys and girls of the Nemato Rowing Club, and later to address the participants of the Youth in Motion programme at the civic centre.
The Olympic golden boys were initially contacted by junior Stenden lecturer Kevin Aitcheson, himself a keen rower, who knows them personally. To his delight Thompson and Ndlovu were available and wasted no time getting to Port Alfred to help the Nemato Rowing Club.
"It felt great to win an Olympic Gold,” said Ndlovu. "We are pleased to help other young clubs in South Africa so they can maybe one day compete in major events like the Olympics.
"Rowing is big in schools but a financially expensive sport. So this gold will be good for South Africa's rowing community and help give it a better image."
Thompson echoed his teammate's sentiment.
"We were asked if we could help the Nemato Rowing Club and we were very happy to do so,” he said.
Having spent two hours on the Kowie River, and following a quick change of clothes, the pair made their way to the civic centre where they received a warm welcome.
Asked if they had learned anything during Thompson and Ndlovu's visit, rowing club head coach Chuma Nyendwana said it was a great experience.
"Sizwe was a real hit with the guys (at Nemato Rowing Club) and they cannot stop talking about the visit,” he said. "Seeing Olympic gold medallists take an interest in them has inspired and motivated them to work even harder.”
