South African Youth Chasing Their Dreams Through Weightlifting

Lifting Dreams Weightlifting Club was founded in 2019 by South African 81Kg Weightlifting champ Khati Mabuye and his brother Katleho. Kathi said the sole purpose of the club was "buidling a gym that was going to be a place of safety for the kids. A space where they can gather together after school and do their homework and train." Despite challenges with equipment, they received help from fellow South African Hein Badenhorst who introduced Mabuye to UK Olympic champ Sonny Webster, who helped them raise funds. With their help and donations from the National Federation of Weightlifting and My Fitness gym, the club has functional equipment. Now the club is fast running out of space to accomodate all the youngsters who come and train every day in the front yard of Khati's mom's home, writes Julia Evans in GroundUp.

Photo Essay

Weightlifting - Assistant coach Tiisetso Hlabathe (21) started weightlifting when she was 11. “Weightlifting taught me a lot of things. Through it I managed to finish school, [because] I was disciplined, ” she says.

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