Teenage shot putter is on the rise to stardom

At 19, the rising South African shot putter, Mine De Klerk is already a two-time World Athletics Under-20 champion and has a bright future.

De Klerk has been consistent and lived up to her expectations at the World Junior Championships when she threw the distance of 17.17m to defend her World title in Cali, Colombia.

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Juggling between shot-put and discus, the USA based athlete has won four junior medals across various age groups. She won more than any other athlete in the World Junior Athletics.

œI am happy about my medal at the World Junior championship because I work really hard the whole season to achieve what I have achieved. I am shocked about the Discus I am very shocked I didn™t expect the medal said De klerk.

The Free State-born athlete will graduate to the senior ranks next year and if she keeps it going, she will take the SA shot put event to a new level.

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De Klerk will spend some time with her family before she returns to the University of Oregon in the United State where she studies Sports Science through a scholarship.

She says she will not rest on her laurels and will go back to the States to work hard on the goals she set for herself next year. She wants to qualify for the World Athletics Senior Championships in Budapest, Hungry, in 2023.

œI will continue with my athletics, then next year I™m gonna continue to work hard and achieve all my dreams and goals I have set for myself she added.

By Charles Baloyi