University of the Western Cape’s Athlete Secures Gold at USSA Champs
The second-year BA Sport student won the USSA 100m title and was selected for the national team participating at the World University Championships in China later this year.
Peddy, who was born in Springbok in the Northern Cape and grew up in Okiep, was not the only UWC athlete to bring home a medal from the 2023 USSA Athletics Championships held at the Free State Athletics Stadium in Bloemfontein. Kananelo Thulo, Mziwamadoda Nonjiko, Jason Koopman and Wiseman Sibiya also won silver in the 21km team competition. UWC finished 8th overall in the championships.
It was Peddy’s third attempt at the USSA championship, having made the finals and finished fourth in his first participation, before he was disqualified last year for jumping the gun.
“USSA Champs as a whole was very emotional for me after I won my first-ever national title,” he commented. “I just woke up on Friday morning and decided that I will win the 100m today. It was more of a mindset shift that helped me to win the 100m.”
The win means that Peddy will represent South Africa for the first time.
“After winning the title, I knew that I would make the team for the World University Champs. I was very emotional about it because it was my goal since last year. When I had to do well to be selected, I showed up. This medal and selection are for the whole UWC team because it shows that UWC Sport and the High-Performance Centre team are doing something good. I hope it motivates every athlete to strive towards their goals,” he said.
Peddy made his national championship debut in 2014, and since then he has chosen athletics over every other sport. In 2016, he finished second in both the Under-17 100m and 200m events at the South African High School Championships. He was also ranked the 4th fastest Under-18 in the country in the 100m and 200m.
The USSA title has sparked his hunger for more success.
“My short-term goal is to go to China and bring back the gold medal for myself and UWC. My long-term goal is to qualify for the Olympic Games next season. With the team I work with at UWC, I know it is achievable.”