Episodit
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The Women's T20 Cricket World Cup may be over, but the emotions are still running high. Join me this week as I dive deep into the heart of the Proteas campaign with Mieke de Ridder, the talented wicketkeeper and right-hand batter for the Proteas. She made her international debut for the national team over a year ago against Pakistan and was part of the world cup squad that just wrapped up their campaign in Dubai.
From the historic semi-final victory against Australia to the heartbreak of the final loss against New Zealand, we unpack the moments and experiences that defined the team's journey. Mieke opens up about the profound impact of these experiences on the team and cricket fans alike, offering her personal perspective on coping with triumph and disappointment. We also get straightforward about how we both dealt with disappointment from opposite sides of the game, as a lover of the game and as a player.
Curious about the five individuals Mieke de Ridder honoured on her shirt? Want to know how she discovered her passion for wicketkeeping? And who are some of the individuals she credits with helping her grow into the confident player she is today? Tune in as we explore these questions and more in a conversation that goes beyond the scoreboard. Hit play and relive the unforgettable moments of the World Cup with us!
The post Mieke de Ridder – Beyond the World Cup first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Few can boast a trailblazing road like triathlete and mountain biking champion, Hannele Steyn. Having achieved Springbok colours in biathlon, duathlon, triathlon, road cycling and mountain biking, she is also one of only four individuals to have completed all 20 Cape epic mountain biking events. She has also taken the win in over 15 stages, and the All-African Women’s trophy proudly bears her name. She has represented South Africa in 10 world championships, 11 triathlon world cups and 9 mountain biking world cups.
In this episode, Hannele Steyn opens up about her remarkable career and the challenges she faced.Born with a hole in her heart and having heard from her teachers that despite her love of sport she lacked the talent to achieve anything significant, Hannele shares how these obstacles fuelled her fire. Discover how this ignited her passion and resilience, and learn why she believes that selfishness can be either a virtue or a vice.
We delve into her love for teaching and mentoring women in mountain biking, the transformative impact of the #sheuntamed initiative empowering more women to take up mountain biking, and she shares her thoughts on the recent 2025 Cape Epic route launch. With wisdom, joy, and a contagious passion for life, Hannele’s story will inspire you to chase your dreams and uplift those around you. Tune in for a conversation that promises to motivate, educate, and celebrate the spirit of athleticism!
The post Hannele Steyn – Blazing a Trail first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Puuttuva jakso?
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This week's episode of She Speaks Sport, dives deep into the heart and mind of top order Proteas batter Tazmin Brits, just as the thrilling 2024 ICC T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup kicks off in the vibrant heat of Dubai. As South Africa prepares to face the West Indies tomorrow, there’s no shortage of excitement and anticipation surrounding this tournament.
In our heartfelt conversation, Tazmin opens up about the unique challenges of competing in the U.A.E., conditions unfamiliar to all ten teams. She shares her strategies for navigating the pressures of World Cup competition, including the routines she has developed to foster her mental resilience and navigating social media during the tournament. Reflecting on 2023's historic semi-final victory over England and the subsequent clash with Australia, Tazmin reflects on the invaluable lessons learned from those historic, moving moments.
This episode also touches on a deeply personal note, Tazmin's mother, Zeldine, her unwavering supporter, is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and won’t be in the stands this time. Tazmin Brits discusses how this impacts her mindset and how mindfulness has become a vital part of her preparation for the upcoming matches. Tune in for an inspiring conversation with one of the key Proteas players as she embarks on this pivotal World Cup journey. Don’t miss this important and enlightening conversation on She Speaks Sport.
The post Tazmin Brits – 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Dané van Niekerk is a phenomenal cricketing all-rounder who played for South Africa, broke records and led as the women’s national captain for over 6 years. After a standout career in Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is from 2009 to 2022, Dané is back on the field with the Western Province women's team for the new 2024 - 2025 season.
In this candid conversation, Dané shares her feelings about joining the Western Province team, the invaluable support she has received from her teammates, and coaching staff. We dive deep into her natural leadership skills, and how she believes in being a listening ear for those around her, both with seasoned and emerging players. We chat about her memorable first training camp with the team where she sported Marizanne's kit, after tossing her own aside after her retirement. Dané openly shares what it means to be back, the feeling of starting afresh, the mental battles of returning back to Provincial cricket and how nervous she felt to start bowling again. She is not closing the door on returning to international cricket in the future, but knows she will be held to a higher standard. Away from cricket, I ask Dané about marriage (as we can all use some advice), and she gives us a special look at Marizanne through her own eyes. This weekend the warm up game in Oudtshoorn will kick start the season, where Dané once faced her most darkest moments. We chat through the mental strength needed for the new season, the past memories and the bittersweet feeling of being a commentator watching the sport she loves, but away from the field.
The post Dané van Niekerk – A Cricket Revival first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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In this podcast episode, I sit down with Yuli van der Molen, a Dutch cyclist whose passion for road and track cycling has been matched only by her incredible resilience. Formerly with the AG Insurance – NXTG U23 team and now with Proximus – Cyclis CT, Yuli’s career took a dramatic turn at the start of 2024 when she was diagnosed with cancer.
Yuli opens up about the heart-wrenching moment she received the diagnosis that would reshape her life and career. At just 20 years old, Yuli has faced the harsh reality of battling Hodgkin lymphoma, a journey that saw her through the darkest days of chemotherapy and a challenging period away from racing. Yuli candidly shares her experiences, from the emotional toll of her diagnosis to the raw reality of her treatment. She reveals the highs and lows of sharing her journey on social media, turning her personal struggle into a source of inspiration for many. Despite the end of her chemotherapy, Yuli discusses the ongoing challenges of recovery and the relentless setbacks she faces.
Driven by her dreams and goals, Yuli talks about the bittersweet process of returning to the bike, reflecting on the invaluable lessons she has learned through this ordeal. Her story is one of unyielding courage and determination, offering a poignant reminder of the strength required to overcome life’s toughest hurdles. Tune in to hear Yuli van Der Molen share her story of perseverance, hope, and the enduring spirit of a cyclist who refuses to give up.
The post Yuli van der Molen- Pedals & Perseverance first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Esti Olivier is a South African sprint kayaker and recently an honoured Olympian. She is the South African national champion, the 2019 and 2023 African champion and a world cup silver medallist.
On the podcast, Esti straight talks on the journey of mental health for athletes, and how under – resourced athletes are in South Africa. Beyond the Olympic qualification Esti has always been open about her mental health journey and advocates strongly for mercy from the public. We also talk about Kgothatso Montjane who recently withdrew from the paralympics and how tough that decision is for an athlete and the understanding needed for supporting mental health. In a deeply emotional, open way we talk about the current health battle Esti’s mom is fighting with stage 4 cancer, and the meaning behind her presence in Paris with Esti when she competed. Did Esti visit Disney Land in Paris and what did she do on her day off? Why doesn’t Esti kayak on rivers? What role did her father play in her journey choosing kayaking? The conversation on support, sponsorship and finances continues as we round off our conversation, with the challenge to support women in sport, and develop young talent from the onset.
We would also like to take this opportunity to say a prayer for anyone who is currently battling cancer, or who has a family member fighting this hard fight.
This show is dedicated to every brave warrior.The post Esti Olivier- South Africa’s Champion Kayaker first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Ken Jacobs has achieved many significant milestones in the sport and leisure industries. He was the CEO of Cricket Victoria, and event manager for the ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007. He has been a mentor, chair and collaborator with various sporting clubs and bodies, and today he is involved with Cricket without Borders, which promotes and develops the game of cricket for young girls.
On the show Ken and I kick it off with chit -chat about the cricket rivalry that existed between Australia and South Africa. Ken takes us back to the 60’s when his father was deeply involved with cricket and how he formed profound friendships with many South African cricket players. We get into the organisation Cricket without Borders which was started in 2011 by Claire Cannon, at a time when cricket opportunities were not readily available for women. The organisation takes tours for young girls to play cricket overseas, experience different cultures and give back to the communities in the countries they visit. The most recent tour to Malaysia just returned, and Ken unpacks how the players experienced the cricket, the culture and the afternoon tea with the Australian High Commissioner in the region. We discuss the resources being made available to women’s cricket in Australia, and the hurdles that still exist to further the game.
The post Ken Jacobs – Cricket without Borders first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Libbie Janse van Rensburg is a powerhouse name in South African women’s rugby. Not only is she flyhalf for the Bulls Daisies, she is also the Springbok women’s flyhalf, and a 2024 Olympian. Last year she picked up awards for the Bulls Daisies backline player of the year, Tuks Rugby player of the year, SA Rugby provincial player of the year, and SA Rugby women’s player of the year. She is currently the top Springbok women’s point scorer in the national team.
Fresh from the Olympics, Libbie and I do a deep dive into the Olympic atmosphere, the cardboard beds, the Seine ceremony experience and what it means to have fulfilled the dream of many Springbok women’s sevens players. Having qualified for two previous Olympics, but denied the chance to compete, we talk about how important these Olympics were for the team. With SA Rugby announcing its intention of forming a new Women’s Super League Rugby, Libbie shares with us her thoughts on this announcement and the continued need to invest in women’s rugby at every level. Is Libbie excited for the upcoming WXV2 in September and what special photo does she carry with her when she travels to play? What was it like playing in front of 66000 people and does the future for women’s sport look bright? This conversation is full of truths about women’s rugby in South Africa and how Libbie has forged her path through injury to the Olympics in 2024.
The post Libbie JV Rensburg – Women’s Rugby at the Olympics first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Mariske Strauss is one of South Africa’s most decorated mountain bikers, having represented the national team over 12 times. She has also been the African champion; the national champion and she represented South Africa at two Commonwealth Games. With numerous wins under her belt, Mariske is skilled at performing in high stress situations whether in a team set up, or self-directed.
On the podcast, Mariske and I take a look at her journey with mountain biking, and how she fell in love with a sport she has competed in for over two decades. Her journey in mountain biking has been about dreaming, believing and acceptance, all truths she unpacks on the show. We also speak about faith and her spiritual life, which has played the most significant role in helping her navigate the hard times. Speaking about hard times, Mariske shares about the diagnosis that shook her world just 18 months ago when she went from being a top athlete to a diagnosis of myocarditis, pericarditis and cystitis. We speak about sponsorships and how her sponsors stayed by her side during her recovery journey and her recent pregnancy and she shares her future dreams, her health update and the joy of being a new mom.
The post Mariske Strauss – Conquering the Trails of Life first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
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Lucie Ehrmann is a field hockey goalkeeper for the French senior team since 2017. She played at the Dutch club Den Bosch for the past 3 years as second goalie where her team won the Dutch league in 2022 and in 2024. They also won the EHL in 2023. Lucie is an aspiring high performance and mindset coach, with the purpose of teaching people how to think a differently, in order to unlock their potentials and reach their goals. She is currently living out her childhood dream by playing for the French team in the Olympics as first goalie.
On the podcast, Lucie and I jump into truths about living a life of identity, and how she discovered her true identity in her values, and self-worthiness. By living a life of value and worthiness as a person who embraces every part of themselves, and understanding that there is beauty in the bad moments, Lucie has a strong foundation to tackle good and bad days as an athlete. We talk about Lucie’s start in hockey, how she had to work her way to the top, which led her to feel like the underdog, but the superpower of being an underdog, is something she considers powerful. Lucie also talks about the hard work of living an Olympic dream, and the relief of what this means for her as a first goalie for her country, especially as this French women’s hockey team are the first to qualify for the Olympics. “Does she ever get nervous before games?” “Why does she watch Netflix before her games?” “And what role does rap music, black war paint and Italian music have to do with hockey?” Lucie answers these and more, and she also writes a letter to her younger self, as well as all of us. Lucie radiates kindness and motivation, not only is this episode about sport, but it’s filled with jewels for the pathways of life.
The post Lucie Ehrmann – A Winning Hockey Mindset first appeared on She Speaks Sport.
