Young biker out to conquer the world

28 Dec, 2014 - 00:12 0 Views
Young biker out to conquer the world Rebecca Oberholzer

The Sunday Mail

She was deep in slumber when her name was called out to receive the Junior Sportswoman of the year award at the Annual National Sport Awards banquet held two weeks ago.

And when she was awaken to collect it, Rebecca Oberholzer seemed like she was sleep walking.

All of a sudden, Oberholzer became an instant hero, with every journalist clamouring for an interview with the seven-year-old. Oberhelzer, a BMX rider, became the youngest junior Sportswoman of the Year winner at only seven-years-old, in the history of the ANSA awards.

“It was just confusing because I was being swayed this way and that way by journalists, people wanting photos of me,” Oberholzer said.

Her mother confessed that they became even more shell-shocked when she heard that the recipient of the Junior Sportsperson of the Year award was being given to her daughter.

“She was a bit shell shocked and she had been sleeping. So, she couldn’t absorb what was happening. Initially, they had said the programme would begin at 6:0pm and end at 9:30.

“So, I thought she could at least last until 8:30pm in time for the presentation in the category she had been nominated. So, when it got late, even her brother was also fast asleep. He only woke up for a moment, said “Did Beck win?” and he went to sleep again. Now she is enjoying the moment,” her mother Samantha said.

“It was almost unbelievable because I didn’t expect it. My main thought was that because of her young age, perhaps she wouldn’t win it. My other worry was that because BMX isn’t a popular sport in Zimbabwe, I didn’t expect her to win.

“But at the back of my mind I thought she has achieved so much,” added Samantha.

Another special moment was beckoning for young Oberholzer the day after the night of the awards ceremony when seven-time Olympic medallist Kirsty Coventry e-mailed Samantha to congratulate her for her daughter’s exploits.

“For Becky, that was really nice because everyone knows Kirsty and she wrote about her,” added Samantha.

While the swimming sensation used to swim with the older Oberholzer during their school days, the call to congratulate her daughter represents an endorsement of the talent her child has.

Coventry went on to nominate Rebecca as her African Athlete of that week.

“She has been enjoying her little celebrity moment. And she was very excited because she saw herself on the news. We recorded that and we have been watching that,” her mother said.

The Chisipite Junior School student’s six-days-a-week training includes practicing on the track, on the field, on the road, gym as well as fulfilling her school sport schedule. Weighing 23kgs, Oberholzer won her first accolade when she made her debut at the BMX national competitions at the age of four. But the dream of riding a bike started when young Oberholzer felt bored watching her brother competing at BMX tournaments.

“I used to bring her to the track at four and she used to say “Mom, I’m bored.” So, I suggested we bring her tiny bicycle and she started riding like that. Her brother taught her some of the skills and even now he still helps her with tips on what to do better,” Samantha said.

From then on, Oberholzer was unstoppable. While her mother highlights that she is the only girl in her age group, the youngster interjects and lets out her concerns.

“I want more girls to come because all the time I’m racing against boys,” Rebecca bemoans.

“She races boys all the time, which probably is what has helped to attain her standard. Even in South Africa she used to race with boys because there were no girls in her age group,” her mother weighed in.

At such a tender age, Rebecca boasts awards attained in gymnastics, triathlon, ballet, swimming as well as academic acclaims at her school. With such a hectic schedule, Oberholzer has to do her reading, while her mother drives the car to pick up her brother. And her plans for next year have already been clearly laid out.

“There should be an inter-provincial race in January and then she will go for club racing, which is held every two weeks throughout the term.

“We want to go to the European Cup tournament in April before the World Championship three months later in Belgium because it will be on the same track. So, it (European Cup) will be nice to go and have an experience of the track, but the cost is an inhibiting factor. Still, we are working harder at the moment,” added Samantha.

With a team of 13 athletes making it to the World Championships, Oberholzer was the little one who would once in a while fall behind during training sessions.

But being the young biker, she also felt great getting all the attention.

“It feels nice because everyone looks after me. But when I compete, I have to start ahead because if you are all together and someone falls then all of you fall into each other.

With the commitment that Oberholzer has, she has no doubt she will pick up an ANSA award again next year.

“I want to go to the Youth Olympics then the Olympics,” Oberholzer concludes.

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