Wêreldbekende sport-fotograaf, Roger Sedres, sê ‘n onlangse foto wat hy van Caster Semenya geneem het is die beste van sy loopbaan. Beslis ook die foto wat vir hom die meeste persoonlike betekenis inhou.

Ná Caster ‘n tweede goue medalje by die Statebondspele in Australië gewen het, was dit tydens die oorhandiging-seremonie waar die spesiale oomblik afgespeel het. Semenya het met dié prestasie ook die derde vrou in die byeenkoms se geskiedenis geword om goud te wen in beide die 1500m en 800m. Sy’t die 800m in ‘n nuwe Statebondspele-rekord van 1 minuut 56.68 sekondes gewen, en het so haar dubbele aanslag met sukses voltooi deur nuwe Statebond-rekords in altwee items op te stel.

Fotograaf Roger sê in al die jare wat hy vir Caster ken het hy haar nog nooit so emosioneel na ‘n wedloop gesien nie. Hy sê ook dat die gebalde vuis wat sy omhoog gehou het totaal onverwags was.

Semenya bevind haar weereens op die oomblik in die middelpunt van kontroversie na die IAAF beslis het dat sy voortaan medisyne moet gebruik indien sy van plan is om steeds in die twee items waarin sy onlangs goud gewen het deel te neem, weens haar natuurlike hoë vlakke van testosteroon.

Volgens Sedres, wat haar baie goed ken, is dit ‘n onregverdige beslissing en het sy hoop uitgespreek dat die IAAF hulle besluit sal heroorweeg en terugtrek ter wille daarvan dat Semenya in vrede aan haar sport kan deelneem.

Hy voeg by dat dit belangrik is dat mens onthou dat Caster nie naastenby tye aanteken wat vergelykbaar is met dié van mansatlete nie.

Sedres meen sy is by uitstek die beste verteenwoordiger vir atletiek van ons kontinent en dat haar deursettingsvermoë byna ongekend is. Semenya, wat tot onlangs nog voltydse student ook was, gebruik geen opkikkers nie en werk harder as meeste ander professionele atlete. Sedres hoop dat die wêreld dit nie miskyk nie, en dat die onregverdige optrede deur owerhede teen ons ster-atleet sal endkry.

Intussen bly dit volgens hom vir ons as nasie belangrik om vir Caster Semenya te bly steun en bewus te wees van die feit dat sy derduisende vroue regoor ons land verteenwoordig wat met dieselfde liggaams-realiteit gekonfronteer word. Luister gerus na die sielvolle beskrywing van ‘n onvergeetlike oomblik deur ‘n man met vele deugde in die potgooi hierbo.

Besoek gerus Roger se webblad by www.imagesa.com om nog van sy foto’s te bekyk.

A friend of mine was telling me that I haven’t lived until I’ve tried an hour and a half class of yoga. I just thought: An hour and a half? Who has time for that? I barely have time for my 2 minute shower. It was food for thought and I realised that that really isn’t good either. I spoke to some of my super busy Mom friends for advice on quick and easy ways busy moms can take better care of themselves on a daily basis.

1. Treat yourself like a 3 year old, when it comes to screen time. You already know that excessive screen time before bed is terrible for your children, but what about the 45 minutes you spend mindlessly scrolling through your feeds every evening? It has the same effect, making you groggy, anxious and less able to actually relax. Ban technology in the bedroom, and while you’re at it, put down the phone at the dinner table, too. Be sure to unfollow people who make you feel bad or feel you have to compare yourself to. You’ll feel better already.

2. Plan a night out. Get a sitter, ask your husband or a family member to help for a few hours and then go out for a night. Put on your favourite lipstick, gather some girlfriends and enjoy – it could be sushi, a movie or anything that doesn’t revolve around the kids.

3. Eat off your own plate, not your child’s. Remember those pre-baby recipes you concocted? Oh, how the mighty have fallen. But know this, there is a middle ground between being a master chef and licking hour-old maple syrup off a child-sized fork. You’re better than that. Make yourself a proper meal. Your body will also thank you.

4. Use a candle instead of the bathroom light. You want a spa-like experience, and here in Cape Town, our baths have been a no-go for nearly 2 years now. Here’s a nifty trick! Turn off the lights and light a few candles. You’ll instantly feel calmer.

5. Try a sheet face mask. Who has time to apply face masks? I love face sheet masks because you can apply them, make dinner and school lunches and you don’t need to wash them off. You just take them off and rub in the excess serum. No mess, no fuss and your skin will thank you.

Congratulations to Saleemah Tape from Athlone who won R50 000 for correctly identifying the Smile Secret Sound as “putting the lid on a take away cup of coffee”.
Here it is…