ONE OF South Africa’s top cyclists – whose training took a back seat during Covid – is back in the saddle and heading to the UK in a bid to become World Champion.

 

Sarah Hill, who is not only a leading mountain biker but is also the country’s highest certified cycling coach, is set to represent her country at the world’s biggest cycling event, the 2023 World Cycling Championships in Glasgow, from 3-13 August.

 

And success would mean the world to a woman who has not only pushed herself both physically and mentally – but also academically as she prepares to add a doctorate to an already impressive set of qualifications.

 

In 2020 expectations were high that Sarah and teammate Theresa Ralph would be the ones to watch at the gruelling, eight-day Cape Epic stage race, having come sixth the previous year and earned the South African leaders’ jerseys.

 

Then, the pandemic hit, the race was cancelled, and – deprived of her rigorous training schedule – Sarah, 30, from Johannesburg, began to lose faith in her dreams of reaching the top of her sport.

 

However, fast forward three years, and Sarah – who has a BSc (Hons) in Exercise Science and a BA (Hons) in Psychology – has not only resumed her cycling career but is currently studying for a Masters in Sport and Performance Psychology.

 

She also co-owns The Threshold Coaching, working one-on-one with athletes from around the world to build their fitness through training programs, in-depth analysis, and individual feedback days.

 

“I also offer mountain bike skills lessons and MindShift performance sessions,” she said.

 

“And those involve diving deeper into sport and performance psychology to help attain that extra 10 percent required to perform at one’s best.”

 

“I have a true passion for sport, specifically cycling,” she said. “And I have worked with countless men and women in their journey from discovering the sport to actively being involved in the growth of the industry.”

 

“In my line of work, I emphasise the mental health and wellbeing that is a result of participating in sport – and I love the benefits myself.”

 

“But, on a personal level, my goal is to reach my Phd just so I can stand on a world cup podium with the announcer calling me up as Dr. Sarah Hill,” she added.

 

Text credit: The Athletics Media Group- Mark Middlemas

 

Photo credit: Tobias Ginsberg

 

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