Physical fitness is crucial for any athlete. But Jo-Ané van Dyk says mind-set plays an equally important role in an athlete’s career. She talks about the decisions that shaped her into the athlete she is today.
Jo-Ané van Dyk in action as she throws her javelin at the World student Games 2019. PHOTO: Supplied by Jo-Ané van Dyk.
On the grandest stage of them all, the pressure often proves to be unbearable for some. Yet, as a youngster, this is the destination that many athletes dream of.
As the world fixes its gaze on the next generation of athletes, the eyes of javelin athletes are fixed on their next throw. The preparations invested into this, come at the expense of much sweat and tears.
‘One step, two step, deep breath…’ Jo-Ané van Dyk actions. She is holding the spear-like object tightly. An electrifying atmosphere resonates throughout the track and field. The fans have come out in their numbers to the stadium in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Van Dyk steadies herself and sprints down the runway with the javelin above her shoulders, tightly held in her right hand.
One solid throw lands a distance of 57.32m, elevating her to 2nd place in the world u/20 championships. This is it. She’s pushed her limits and was rewarded with a new personal best. The green and gold colours connect her with the joyful supporters.
Where it all began
Often times students think the workload of their studies is cause for concern. But Van Dyk is proving those beliefs wrong. She is both a student and a successful international athlete. At the age of just 22, Van Dyk has attended several international competitions, including the Youth Olympics, the World Youth Championships and the African Championships. And she returned with a few international medals.
The current North West University student and international Javelin athlete comes from Heidelberg, in the Western Cape. “I grew up playing sports. At grade 1, I started playing netball and then later on went to javelin,” said Van Dyk.
For a long time, she had two passions in life, netball and javelin. However, her athletic career took off when she changed high schools, moving from Heidelberg to Hoërskool Outeniqua, in 2011, when she was in grade 9. That’s when javelin won.
At age 16, followed by a spell of good performances, she was ranked first on the World Junior rankings that year.
“One of the most significant moments of my high school life was when my school realised that I could throw well. That’s where they started investing in me. But throughout high school, I did more netball than javelin, even after qualifying for the World Junior Championships,” said Van Dyk.
With her high school career coming to an end, Van Dyk made a conscious decision to prioritise one of these sports.
“When I finished matric, I had to decide what I wanted to do, which led to my decision to go to Potchefstroom. I made a conscious decision […] to focus on javelin and, furthermore, that I would never play netball again…Until this day I have never played netball,” said Van Dyk.
As a student, Van Dyk continued to successfully balance her studies and professional athletics career.
Athlete Jo-Ané van Dyk believes her career path has helped her grow into a better athlete and person. Her profile continues to grow through the years. PHOTO: Supplied by Van Dyk
In 2018, the then 20-year-old javelin specialist saw herself qualify for another international event. This time, things were different. She started to realise that the pressure of the sport, combined with academic responsibilities was getting to her. As a result, she considered dropping her studies.
“It’s difficult trying to balance the two; being a full-time student and a professional international athlete. You cannot train as much as your competitors,” said Van Dyk.
Van Dyk had finally decided she can’t deal with managing the two. As the African World Championships approached, her attention became divided.
“I didn’t have the same amount of training time that they [other competitors] had, and that makes a difference. On top of that, sometimes we have competitions on weekdays which collide with my classes,” said Van Dyk.
After the African Championships in Nigeria, Van Dyk decided to take time off her studies and start paying full attention to her athletics career.
“I just couldn’t handle the weight and pressure simultaneously from both my studies…well, that’s what I thought at that time,” said Van Dyk.
A battle of the minds
Probability suggests that when you focus on one thing, you are more likely to succeed in it. But Van Dyk experienced the opposite.
“Instead I started losing focus. I got lazy and started skipping training. In short, everything went south,” said Van Dyk.
After months of blocking her studies to solely focus on athletics, Van Dyk realised her efforts were failing. She started losing discipline. Habits such as training and eating correctly, suddenly became difficult. Despite having put her studies on hold, she struggled to match her usual standards.
“After almost a year had passed, I realised more and more that I cannot just commit to one thing,” stated Van Dyk. On reflection, Van Dyk realised that keeping busy was something that created momentum and helped her to achieve tasks. This is where Van Dyk realised that she would never be able to focus on just her professional athletics career. In June 2019, she made a mind-shift, and resumed her studies.
“After this decision, my season went great. I am throwing better distances than I was last year around this time [January to March]. Training is also going well, the coach is happy with my progress. Most importantly, I’m happy,” added Van Dyk.
Athlete Van Dyk representing South Africa at Naples, Italy, preparing herself for her throw. PHOTO: Supplied by Jo-Ané van Dyk.
A lonely path
Consistency is key for athletes, according to Van Dyk. And that takes discipline.
“It’s a lonely path we face as athletes. Countless times I get asked how my sports is doing, but I barely get asked how I am doing,” said Van Dyk.
She points to two international athletes from the Czech Republic seated across the table from where the interview takes place. “See those people, they are international athletes,” said Van Dyk. The athletes’ peak training sessions are between December to January, during the festive season. Being away from family and friends were also part of the sacrifices athletes had to make, she pointed out. The thought of a strict diet while others feasted on festive food, elevated the respect for athletes.
“The mind is where the battle is won,” said Van Dyk.
The mental battle
“It’s a constant internal battle. From preparations, to dealing with disappointments in injuries. All these aspects play a role in the overall performance at the end of the day,” said Van Dyk as she reflected on one of her toughest seasons.
“In my first year, I threw a 43m. However, if I had decided to quit, then I wouldn’t be where I am now,” said Van Dyk.
It was the same attitude that got her through what she considered a terrible season, when she paused her studies. The mind-set of not giving up, and the constant commitment that sports demands, could only be overcome with patience and persistence.
“In javelin one usually peaks at 26 or 27 years. A lot of athletes don’t have the patience. They would rather get a job and generate an income than wait another year training,” said Van Dyk.
Van Dyk believes traveling has sharpened her perspective on life, shaping how she sees the world today. Many of the events that she participates in are hosted in Europe or Africa. This means she has travelled extensively to these regions.
“In all these trips you get various challenges. You meet different people, people you don’t agree with, people with different personalities, people with different beliefs. My African trips,” continued Van Dyk, “are the ones that have shaped me into a better and stronger person.”
A group photo of athlete Van Dyk with fellow South African athletes that were chosen for African Games in Morocco. PHOTO: Supplied by Jo-Ané van Dyk.
“We often think we have problems in South Africa. If you go to other African countries, people will see that we as a country are doing good,” said Van Dyk.
“Mind-set is everything; everyday I go to training, I visualise my goals. I think about my vision and why I am doing this,” ended Van Dyk.
*Please note: This interview was conducted before the nationwide lockdown
regulations were implemented.