After breaking the South African hammer throw record at the second leg of ASA Grand Prix Series, a Continental Tour Challenger at the Germiston Athletics Stadium last week, Leandri Geel is excited about the future.
Geel smashed the national women’s record with a distance of 66.11m, breaking the mark of 65.80m previously held by Phethisang Makhethe in April 2022.
Geel, a medical doctor by profession, said the feeling of setting the new record has not sunk in.
“On Wednesday (19 April 2023), it felt unreal and everything happened quickly. I did not have the chance to think about what happened. But these past few days I have been replaying the events, seeing that measuring tape showing me 66.11m and I am thankful it happened.
“It is a step in the right direction and I am looking forward to what the future holds, and the rest of the season.”
Now full to the brim with confidence, Geel is looking forward to the third leg of the ASA Grand Prix Series at the NWU MacArthur Athletics Stadium in Potchefstroom on Wednesday 26 April 2023.
“I am competing in Potchefstroom on Wednesday at the third leg of Grand Prix Series hoping to produce another incredible performance, but I am looking forward to competing at this week’s event again.
“The Grand Prix Series is well organised and I am prepared to give my absolute best and see what happens,” she noted.
Geel started as a discus and shot put thrower for nine years before her coach Chris Harmse convinced her she could excel in the hammer throw. She did not see herself doing another event except for discus and shot put.
“Chris Harmse spoke to me after one of my competitions and told me I would make a good hammer thrower.
“I took it lightly because I had been doing discuss and shot put for so long and never considered swapping them for anything else. But after one of those competitions, where I struggled in the discus and shot put, my distances had slowed.
“I finally decided to make changes as I was looking for something challenging. I called Chris and I started training the hammer with him as soon as I could and have not regretted it since,” said the beaming 25-year-old Geel of her incredible journey that has entered her name in the history books of South African athletics.
“I am enjoying every part of it. My family has been supportive and I feel that by achieving these goals is my way of thanking them for believing in me. It’s been a fun journey with good and bad days, but the good days make it worth it.”
“I’m looking forward to what the future holds and breaking the SA record is a step in the right direction. I feel positive and I can achieve a lot more. I’m looking forward to it,” added Geel.
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Athletics South Africa is the governing body for the sport code of track and field in the Republic of South Africa with a head office in Johannesburg.
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