A local athlete who has overcome severe asthma is now training to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Nolene Conrad, a national long distance athlete and an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Gold Label runner, has intensified her training schedule to achieve qualifying times for the Games.
Ernie Gruhn, Conrad’s coach said that the current training program she is following is an initial preparation for the Cape Town Marathon which will take place on the 23rd of September. However, over the past year, the adjustment in the load and intensity has been primarily aimed at preparing for the 2020 Olympics.
WATCH: Local athlete Nolene Conrad talks about overcoming asthma and training for the 2020 Olympics. VIDEO: Kelly-Jane Turner
Conrad, an athlete born in Bishop Lavis and raised in Blue Downs, was diagnosed with severe asthma at the age of 13. After her near-death asthma attack at 16, her doctor suggested that she start running if she wanted to live to see her twenty first birthday.
According to Conrad, the doctor said that she would have to do some form of activity to improve her lung capacity and to outgrow the asthma. This motivated Conrad to start participating in cross-country races and she persistently finished the races despite needing medical attention.
“I was so determined to overcome this illness that nothing would stop me, so I held onto the hope that I would one day outgrow it,” she said.
After many years of training and participating in various marathons, Conrad overcame asthma and achieved her IAAF Gold Label status in March at the 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships held in Spain.
Elana van Zyl-Meyer, South African silver-medalist at the 1992 Summer Olympics, founder of Endurocad Sports Academy and Conrad’s mentor, said that she is definitely on track to qualify for the next Olympics in Tokyo.
“The ultimate dream for any sports person is to go to the Olympics and represent your country. She has represented South Africa before at the World Cross Country and the Commonwealth Games,” said Van Zyl-Meyer.
“Nolene has an advantage because she has built her career over a long period of time and has improved greatly. Her performances over the last few have indicated that she’s got the ability to go to the Olympics,” she continued.
Local star athlete Nolene Conrad trains three times a day in preparation for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. PHOTO: Kelly-Jane Turner
Conrad is not only a professional athlete, but is also an athletics manager at Endurocad. “I try to give back where I can by helping and inspiring young athletes to achieve holistic success in both sports and academics so that they can create a life after sport,” she said.
Van Zyl-Meyer said that Conrad serves as a great role model for younger athletes as she mentors them on the field and helps them find direction in their academics. “Nolene shows that sticking to your dream will pay off,” said Van Zyl-Meyer.
According to Gruhn, Nolene has “extended the platform of her running for social betterment” and “she has played an unbelievable role in bringing on young athletes”.
By: Kelly-Jane Turner