Multi talented champion just keeps walking
The 10 000 meters race-walking champion Francois Jacobs takes to school, sports and winning in his stride.
The versatile 18-year-old from Montana High School boasts with many sporting accolades. The multifaceted young man, who is also the school’s head boy and on the school’s Top 10 for academics, broke Tinus Esterhuize’s ASA record with a time of 44.37 seconds during the world race-walking championships in China.
“The feeling was great. It was also a great achievement for both of us,” says Francois. Esterhuize is Francois’s coach.
Francois held on to his winning streak throughout the year after being named the champion in 10 000 metre race-walking in Paarl and breaking the South African school’s record in Potchefstroom. That, along with all his other achievements, has earned him the Standard Let’s Play award this week.
Jacobs has come a long way since his first athletics meeting in primary school. He has been named SA schools champion before – in 5 000 metre race-walking in Grade 7.
“The last time I actually abided by a strict practice routine was in Grades 9 to 11, but due to the workload I had this year, I could not pay much attention to athletics in general. All the year’s achievements came as a surprise to me.”
Source: Worcester Standard News