CAPE TOWN-A young discus thrower from Lotus River, Micah le Roux, is making great strides on the sports track.
Le Roux is a Grade 6 learner and attends Fairview Primary School.
In March this year, she won silver in the girls u-12 discus category at the national school athletics in Germiston.
Her mother, Candice, is immensely proud of her daughter’s achievements. “She competed there last year as well and finished third in South Africa. I do believe that her story is one of inspiration and motivation for other girls her age,” she says.
People’s Post spoke with the star in the making who shared the recipe for success and the challenges she tackles.
She says she never thought she would be an athlete as no one in her family does sports.
“In 2024, the school started training for annual school sports and I had to join in because it was compulsory. I was selected to compete in shotput girls u-11 but did not think much of it. I took first place in the inter schools and the district meet. My dad started to take me for training. I progressed and was on my way to compete in the western province championship, I started training every day because I knew that I will be competing with more experienced throwers,” she recalls.
She achieved a silver medal at the Western Province championship and progressed to the Western Cape championships and got a silver medal.
“I got an opportunity to represent Western Cape at the national championship and obtained a bronze medal. In 2024, I could only participate in shot put as discus was only from 12 years old. In September 2024, I started practising discus with a coach that assisted me with the technique, but I did most of my training at home. I do like shotput and discus, but I would love to be a professional discus thrower.”
When asked about the highlight of her career so far she said: “The highlight was getting to see the rest of South Africa when I got to travel to Limpopo in 2024 to partake in the primary school national championships for the first time. Getting to compete with other kids my age on a national level. But the biggest highlight was being part of the Western Cape team when they won the national trophy.”
Le Roux says her greatest challenge was not having a place to practise for her discus and shot put.
“I need a big open space to do so. There is no training ground for discus or shot put in my community or close to us that is open to the public. I cannot really do much throws training as the field where I used to train is not very safe anymore.”
She says she trains every night at home with her dad. “We used to train in the park in the area but we no longer do due to safety reasons. We are currently looking for a new place to train.
“My daddy has been my trainer since the day I told him that I am competing in the inter-house competition back in 2024. With my daddy, dedication and motivation, I was able to make it all the way to the top. Balancing school and sports are easy for me, I work on the school work during the day and in the evening when my dad gets home, we start training, at least one hour per day, three to four times per week.”
Her future goals are to represent South Africa in international championships one day.
“Imagine a little girl from Lotus River competing on an international stage. Next year will be my final year at Fairview Primary School. I am working very hard to stay in the top 10 to ensure that I get to attend a good school where there is a discus facility.”
People’s Post reached out to the school for comment but they could not respond before the time of going to print.
