At the age of just 19, Viwe Jingqi has already become a beacon of hope and inspiration in South African athletics.
Shining at home and abroad in recent years, she has showcased not only her remarkable talent but also her resilience, breaking stereotypes and taking her spot in the limelight in a sport traditionally dominated by men.
Humble background
Born and raised in Ngcobo, a small town in the Eastern Cape, Jingqi grew up in a modest household, raised by her mother and father, who himself was an athlete back in his day.
From the age of 10, she started developing a love for sports, participating in her school’s inter-house competitions in a variety of codes.
She has since directed her focus towards sprinting, and the teenager has made huge strides over the last few years, but she admits the path she has followed has been far from easy.
“I faced depression in my journey. I was forced to become a breadwinner at a young age,” says Jingqi, who is now based in Potchefstroom.
Despite limited access to resources, however, she has managed to sharpen her skills with determination.
She also credits her success to the support of dedicated coaches, including Sandile Mqothi and Paul Gorries, as well her loved ones.
“The people I have around me keep me motivated and push me to keep doing my best despite challenges that come with being an athlete,” she says.
Overcoming challenges on and off the track
And the challenges she has faced off the track have helped teach Jingqi to overcome the challenges she has faced on it, including injuries and a struggle to bounce back from surgery.
She got her first taste of elite competition when she was scouted by Tuks Sport High in Pretoria in 2019 and received the training and coaching she needed, ultimately building her into one of the most recognisable female athletes in the country.
In 2022, Jingqi made headlines by shattering the national U18 100m record three times at the South African Junior and Youth Athletics Championships.
At just 17, she delivered a string of incredible performances, running 11.40 seconds in the heats before improving to 11.36 in the semi-finals and saving her best for the final, where she clocked an impressive 11.24, also breaking the long-standing SA U20 record of 11.25 which had been held by Marcel Winkler since 1989.
In addition, she shattered the 40-year-old SA youth 200m record held by Evette de Klerk (23.30), clocking 23.03.
In 2022, however, Jingqi experienced a major setback when she had to withdraw from the South African Senior Championships after picking up a hamstring injury during her warm-up, forcing her off the track at a crucial stage of her season.
Her challenges continued in 2023 when she faced difficulties returning to peak form following surgery to remove her appendix.
The recovery process was tough, impacting her performances throughout the season as she worked to regain her strength and speed.
Despite these hurdles, Jingqi made a remarkable return to the track in 2024. She demonstrated her resilience and talent by claiming the South African senior 100m title, a victory that reaffirmed her status as one of the country’s rising stars.
She further showcased her progress on the global stage, finishing fifth in the 100m final at the World U20 Championships held in Peru, a significant achievement reflecting her steady return to top form.
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Inspiring other women
Already the fastest woman in South Africa, ahead of her first season as a senior athlete, Jingqi’s remarkable journey has not only inspired her community but has also sparked a wave of enthusiasm among both younger and older female athletes around the country who see her as a role model.
“I’ve had older athletes come up to congratulate me and express how much they admire my work including how much of an inspiration I am to both them and upcoming athletes,” she says.
Her popularity is evident in her nomination for Personality of the Year at the Athletics South Africa Awards this weekend, where she is also up for the Junior Female Athlete of the Year accolade.
Despite all of her achievements and the recognition she has already received, however, Jingqi is not resting on her laurels. She dreams of representing South Africa on the global stage at senior level, with her eyes set on the 2028 Olympics.
As she continues her journey, she says she is not just running for medals but also for mental growth, inspiration and the love of athletics.
And her advice to aspiring athletes is simple: “There are bound to be challenges in everything. The best you can do is to learn from them and let them build you for the better.”
* Featured image of Viwe Jingqi by Cecilia van Bers
