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In this episode, I sit down with Western Province women's top-order batter, doughnut lover, and sport nutritionist, Faye Tunnicliffe. Faye has big goals matched by unwavering determination. As a gym owner, fitness enthusiast, and 2024 CSA national academy intake, Faye is working to become a solid fixture in the Proteas starting eleven.
We dive deep into Faye’s story, exploring her cricketing adventure in the U.K. and her return to Cape Town. She candidly shares her time sleeping on her sister’s couch for a month before a call with the coach saw her join the Western Province women's cricket team. This season, Faye has taken on the crucial role of opening batter in both the 50 overs and T20 matches, she reveals what it feels like to step into this position, once held by Andrie Steyn.
Faye discusses how she stays motivated daily. How she starts her day with the “hard things,” what strategies she has found to maintain good mental health, and we talk about doughnuts, her excitement about joining the CSA Academy over the winter, and her natural ability to be an encourager. Tune in to hear Faye’s story of resilience, passion, and the relentless pursuit of excellence, high standards, the Africa Games silver and the starting eleven.
The post Faye Tunnicliffe’s Cricketing Journey first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Join us on an awe-inspiring journey with Letshego Zulu, a name etched in history as the first black woman to conquer the Absa Cape Epic. But her story doesn't stop there. Letshego is a force of nature, a beacon of strength, and a testament to the power of determination. She is also a mother, business woman in outdoor media and the proud owner of Echelon Bike Transport. Her book, "I Choose to Live: Life after losing Gugu," stands as a testament to her courage and resilience in the face of adversity.
I sat down with Letshego to chat about her recent completion of the Waterberg Traverse in Limpopo. Her enthusiasm for the ethos of the race is infectious, but that's not all. Letshego opens up about her exhilarating journey as a runner-up in Survivor SA, offering a raw and intimate glimpse into the mental fortitude required to navigate the challenges of the wilderness. Discover the catalyst behind Letshego's four-time conquest of the Absa Cape Epic as she recounts the pivotal moment when her husband, Gugu, presented her with the opportunity. It was the prospect of breaking barriers as a black woman in the race that ignited her passion, propelling her to new heights of achievement. Reflecting on her whirlwind experience at the Absa Cape Epic 2024, she shares the heart-pounding moment when she received a last-minute invitation just 48 hours before the race. Her resilience and determination shine through as she navigated the gruelling terrain with unwavering resolve, making the race cut off by only 1 second.
She leaves us with a poignant tale of her daughter's experience in acrobatics, a reminder of the invaluable lessons we can learn from the resilience of youth. Join us for a captivating conversation filled with laughter, and passion. Above all, Letshego’s remarkable journey will leave you inspired to conquer your own mountains, both on and off the trails.
The post On the Trail with Letshego Zulu first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

Born in Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, Sharne was active from a young age, from playing cricket with the boys to representing her country both in hockey and in cricket. Recently, she was part of the Lady Chevrons team that took on the South African women in a thrilling cricket final at the 13th African Games. Walking away with the gold was a sensational experience for Sharne and her team, and now they are once again competing on the global stage at the ICC qualifiers.
On the show, Sharne and I dig into the gripping win at the African Games and Sharne gives us a look into the meaning behind the win and her family’s poignant words expressed by the nation; “you were part of something bigger than yourself.” Feeling the weight of what was achieved, Sharne also speaks about her cricket injury for the first time, and how coming back to cricket was something that hung in the balance. Sharne speaks into the much-needed space of what women’s cricket looks like on the African continent and her hopes and vision for accessibility and investment into women’s sport in Africa. Giving voice to female athletes and their understanding of fan and spectator engagement, as well as some insider views on the ICC qualifiers, this podcast is filled with moving, intellectual truths about cricket in Africa from a player’s perspective.
The post Sharne Mayers – Taking the Gold first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

This week, professional cyclist Kim Le Court (Pienaar) joins the show to share her cycling journey. Born in Mauritius, Kim has won the Cape Town cycle tour three times, the Cape Epic, gold medals at the African Games and at the African road Championships and today she races on the Ag Insurance - Soudal team.
Kim fills us in on cycling life on the island of Mauritius. From riding on the highway (don’t get excited, the highway is small), to drinking coconuts on the sand (does this really happen?) and practicing caution when it comes to people and animals, Mauritian cycling sounds hugely entertaining. We also talk about Kim’s early “pro” years in Europe and her return to South Africa in 2017 when she took a year off and almost didn’t return to the sport she once loved. As a soccer fan and a player, the black and white ball almost led her down another career path, but her return to cycling was inevitable. She takes us into her mental space and her current space as part of the elite women’s peloton. How has she gelled with her new team? And how has she found the classics and tours this season, including her 10th place finish in Paris – Roubaix? Also, relive the emotional moment with Kim, when our favourite manager Natascha Knaven gave her the news about joining the team, after Kim had lost hope in the teams’ interest in her signing.
The post Mauritian Cyclist Kim Le Court: A Journey of Triumph   first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

This week it’s ice hockey week on She Speaks Sport ahead of the South African women’s tour to Turkey. My Guest Elaine Moller has been playing ice hockey for over 10 years and has proudly represented South Africa internationally for 5 years. She is part of the senior women’s team representing our country at the World Championships rom April 1st to April 7th.
On the show Elaine shares how she got into ice hockey, and how there are unique challenges facing female ice hockey players, including investment and the reality of not being taken seriously as a competitive player. We also talk about the Turkey tournament starting this week, the preparation of the team, and which team she is looking forward to taking on at the world champs. She answers the most Googled question about women’s ice hockey which strangely is, “do women fight in ice hockey?” We talk about the aggression as part of the game, her role models and her hopes for the future of the game.
The post Face Off with Ice Hockey Player Elaine Moller first appeared on She Speaks Sport.

On the show, Aimee and I discuss her early beginnings, from dreaming big as a 12-year-old girl watching the Olympics, to earning a rugby scholarship to Stellenbosch University. Having to drop out and return later to university, Aimee reflects on the hardship of that time but how rugby was a flame of hope and joy in her life. I also ask Aimee about the manner in which she conducts herself on the field, with respect and confidence. We also talk about the viral videos around the Sharks captain, as well as the U20 Wales and England captains and the conduct on field. Necessary to understanding what it takes to be a referee, we uncover the darker side of this profession, where referees are abused, or threatened and Aimee uncovers what it takes to be a professional referee. We show love to Aimee’s family and support system, and she gives us some rare insight into finding your identity outside of sport, and the sacrifices it takes to have an important work – life balance. Informative and personal, tune in and celebrate our woman of firsts.
The post Aimee Barrett – Theron, My Rugby Life first appeared on She Speaks Sport.