International student athlete Jesse Ndjeka's journey to Olympic fencing dreams
'In that, I understand that motivation isn't even half of what is needed to succeed. And as a result, I've learned discipline, patience, and developed an unwavering faith in my capabilities.'
On how the South African fencing scene compares to the rest of the world, he said, 'In all honesty, the SA fencing scene pales in comparison. We have the talent capable to compete with the rest of the world but we just don't have the infrastructure to consistently develop that talent. The rest of the world also just beats RSA in sheer numbers of events and competitors.'
The South African qualified twice for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAAs), won Cleveland State University's first-ever Central Collegiate Fencing Championship Individual title, and achieved a preliminary top 64 result at the 2024 Vancouver World Cup.
'The support structure I have with me consists of my family back home, my teammates here with me in the States, and all the friends and coaches I met along the way. My family helps me remember where I've come from and to keep my core values intact, my teammates help me stay disciplined and focused on the bigger picture, and my coaches and friends keep me tethered to real life and put things into perspective. Really blending my athletic aspirations with my life goals.'
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He told EWN that during his time as a student-athlete, he had learned to become comfortable with uncertainty. 'In that, I understand that motivation isn't even half of what is needed to succeed. And as a result, I've learned discipline, patience, and developed an unwavering faith in my capabilities.' On how the South African fencing scene compares to the rest of the world, he said, 'In all honesty, the SA fencing scene pales in comparison. We have the talent capable to compete with the rest of the world but we just don't have the infrastructure to consistently develop that talent. The rest of the world also just beats RSA in sheer numbers of events and competitors.' The South African qualified twice for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAAs), won Cleveland State University's first-ever Central Collegiate Fencing Championship Individual title, and achieved a preliminary top 64 result at the 2024 Vancouver World Cup. 'The support structure I have with me consists of my family back home, my teammates here with me in the States, and all the friends and coaches I met along the way. My family helps me remember where I've come from and to keep my core values intact, my teammates help me stay disciplined and focused on the bigger picture, and my coaches and friends keep me tethered to real life and put things into perspective. Really blending my athletic aspirations with my life goals.'
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