One Photo, A Few Words 4.0

Perestroika, Cubans and Longmile International

Historically speaking, nineteen eighty-nine was a pivotal year. The fall of the Berlin Wall, Perestroika and the end of the Cold War were among the marked political changes afoot in Europe, the central theme being the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Closer to home, the Border War was ending (officially at least), UNTAG was in Namibia and the writing was on the wall for the Apartheid regime of South Africa. Incidental or coincidental some might say, perspective dependent of course.

Whilst sporting sanctions against the soon-to-be Rainbow Nation persisted, several undercover or rebel tours continued to take place. Additionally, familiar “homegrown” names did pop up in the overseas sporting circuit from time to time, although often accompanied by foreign national acronyms on the results sheets. Martin “Potz” Potter surfing for Great Britain or Paula Newby-Fraser winning the Hawaii Ironman for Zimbabwe, two such examples of “international” South Africans.

One Photo, A Few Words 3.0

Buccaneers, Businessman and Rough Seas

South Africa 1988. A markedly different place to what we have come to know as the Rainbow Nation. Apartheid was still in force as was The Border War, economic sanctions and the international sporting boycott.

The latter phenomenon seems crazy now: imagine an entire country being excluded from international sporting competition because of unpopular legislation? Difficult to get one’s head around - or even comprehend - in the modern age of instant connectivity and political correctness. Needless to say that the world has become a smaller place indeed.

One Photo, A Few Words 2.0

Intra-national competition, shin splints and non-innovation

I love old photographs. As they say, a picture says a thousand words. The above shot certainly validates that age old statement, both nostalgically and in a way far more relative to current athletic trends than one may think.

The setting is at an invitational South African triathlon competition in the early 1990s, just before our readmission into international sport. Thinking back to that time in a sporting sense, I’m always reminded of the general mood of excitement and anticipation that was prevalent back then. Local athletes starved of official international competition could see some light on the horizon, the reality of which finally came in late 1991. SA sporting teams could now tour overseas without incurring the risk of aerial flour bombs and placards.

One Photo, A Few Words

Some Nostalgia/Anecdotes Et Cetera

In late 2009, a friend and colleague of mine started a website, with the central theme being cycling news, both South African and foreign. Around the same time, I had been writing regular reports for a cycling team that I was part of and was looking to graduate from a roving raconteur to more formal writing. The idea of publishing regular Q&A interviews with top cyclists and triathletes seemed the most appealing option at that time and I started off by interviewing a friend and top veteran rider Tim Carter. I wasn't sure of the sort of response I would get from that first article - raw as it was and all in capital letters! - but sure enough, there was great feedback, which set the proverbial ball rolling for more interviews.

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