Olympics Team SA

Miracle Men

When Rassie Erasmus took over as coach of the Springboks in 2018, few thought they had a chance of winning the Rugby World Cup. The Boks had slipped to seventh in the world rankings and lost the faith of the rugby-loving public. Less than two years later, jubilant crowds lined the streets of South Africa's cities to welcome back the victorious team. Sportswriter Lloyd Burnard takes the reader on the thrilling journey of a team that went from no-hopers to world champions. He examines how exactly this turnaround was achieved. Interviews with players, coaches and support staff reveal how the principles of inclusion, openness and focus, as well as careful planning and superb physical conditioning, became the basis for a winning formula. The key roles played by Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi shine through. There were ups and downs along the way: beating the All Blacks in Wellington during the Rugby Championship was a high point, but then came Kolisi's injury, while in Japan the distractions of a volatile support base sometimes shook the players' focus. Miracle Men is filled with marvellous anecdotes and sharp insights. It is also inspiring testimony to what can be achieved when a group of South Africans from all backgrounds come together as a team.

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Burnard

R 270.00
Warriors

What does it take to win gold at the Olympic Games? How many years of hard work and dedication does it take to prepare for such a feat? How many disappointments do you have to endure on this journey? Danielle Brittain has walked this journey over and over again – her two sons won Olympic gold for South Africa in rowing, all four of her sons have rowed at top levels, and she is currently the team doctor for the SA rowing team. Danielle has faced her own battles with cancer and then watched as her son battled Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during his Olympic training and overcame it and went on to win gold after his recovery in this high-performance sport. The Olympic wins for the South African teams at the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics were iconic moments for South Africa and Brittain’s descriptions of what the wins meant for the individuals in the teams, their families, the coaching staff and ordinary South Africans demonstrates the power of sport to unite the country. A rowing story, a family story, a cancer survival story, a South African story – and the story of a mother watching it all unfold.

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Danielle Brittain

R 340.00
The Race to Be Myself

Aged eighteen, Caster Semenya shot to fame on the global sporting stage for her blistering speed. But shrouding her monumental win were fierce rumours about her physical body rather than her phenomenal performance. Called ‘a threat to the sport’ and ‘not woman enough’, she found herself at the centre of the debate around the newly drawn line between gender and sport. Throughout the intense speculation, harmful rumours and long legal battle she has remained quiet, letting her running do the talking until she was banned from competing and defending her Olympic title in 2020. Now, Caster is ready to own her story and tell it in full. In this book, Caster speaks openly about growing up in a loving family and community that never regarded her as different, just Caster; of her early years understanding her agency, sexuality and athletic ability; and of her infectious spirit and tenacity to be the best. Told with conviction and humour, The Race To Be Myself is the story of a life lived in the spotlight, a manifesto for acceptance and change for all. This is the unforgettable story of one of the most recognisable athletes in the world, and of a woman’s journey to run free.

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Caster Semenya

R 330.00
Riding Life

'His ability to overcome adversity and pain, even in the face of death, is what makes Grant truly unique.’ – Edwin Moses, Olympic Gold Medallist He was told he would never cycle again. But South African ultra-endurance cyclist Grant Lottering doesn’t take no for an answer. In 2013, Lottering’s heart stopped after a gruesome accident in the Italian Alps. Doctors said he would never ride again. Since then, he has completed many gruelling rides through some of the toughest terrain on the planet. The first South African to complete a solo, non-stop 420-kilometre ultra-endurance ride through the northern French Alps in under 24 hours, Lottering has endured numerous rides previously thought to be impossible, while raising millions for charities. Grant Lottering is a highly regarded motivational speaker and ambassador for Laureus Sport for Good. His story – proving that the human body can achieve the near impossible if you have the right mindset – is an inspiration to millions. ‘Perseverance, resilience and determination personified’ – Bryan Habana

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Grant Lottering

R 340.00

84%

(1280)

14%

(216)

(25)

(5)

(3)

1079

213

Lani en Elliot balanseer nie en die vonke spat uit die staanspoor

Elliot tree totaal buite karakter op toe hy langs die hoofpad stop om ’n ryloper op te laai. Hy neem haar boonop na sy ouerhuis toe en vind aanhoudend redes om haar binne sy sfeer te hou. Mens sou dit liefde met die eerste opslag wou noem, maar gewilde skrywer, Madelie Human, noem dit Kortpadliefde.
Moenie verwag dat alles glad gaan verloop nie. “Hy en Lani is beslis nie die twee kante van ’n wiskundige vergelyking nie. Hulle balanseer nie. Kyk maar net hoe die vonke tussen hulle van die eerste oomblik af gespat het.” (p.50)
Moet verder nie verwag dat dit die standaard romanse is nie. Daar is baie diepgaande kwessies wat oopgeskryf word, soos ouer-kind verhoudings, beroepsbedrewendheid, soeke na sosiale aansien, selfs ’n cougar wat skaamteloos die mooi verhouding tussen Lani en Elliot verontagsaam. Dwelmsmokkelary, verdagmaking en vooroordeel is dinge wat negatief inwerk op die ontwikkelende verhouding, maar gelukkig gee die skrywer dit in kleinerige porsies deur aan die leser.
Kortpadliefde is die nuutste in ’n lang lys van suksesvolle Romanzas deur Madelie Human, wat uitgegee is deur Lapa.

Liefde in Barcelona en vrede maak met die verlede

As ’n gesoute leser van romanses, mag jy dalk dink dat jy ’n goeie idee het oor romantiese liefde. Lees jy egter René van Zyl se nuutste Romanza, Sigeunerliefde, gaan jy ’n nuwe definisie raaklees wat die skrywer gaan leen het uit die opera, Carmen. “Liefde is ’n sigeuner se kind wat hom nie aan wette steur nie en nie gedwing kan word om lief te hê nie.” (p.182)
Karmen se verhaal het my skoon nostalgies gehad. Ek het self die voorreg gehad om Spanje te besoek en goeie herinneringe het kom aanklop: Flamenco-dansers, Gaudi, die Sagrada Familia-basilika, metrotreinritte deur Barcelona, sangria by ‘n kafee, stap met La Rambla langs. Jy hoef egter nie te vrees dat dit gaan lees soos ’n reisbrosjure nie. Die agtergrond is presies dit, die verhoog waarop ’n hartroerende verhaal afspeel van ’n jong vrou wat geteister word deur verwyte, gemis van haar ouers en veroordeling deur haar ouma.
Die straatmusikant wat haar hart kom steel, leer haar ook dat sy nie mag het oor lewe en dood nie. Sy moet die skuldlas laat vaar wat haar dryf om soos ’n sigeuner rond te swerf en nêrens rus te vind nie.
Die skrywer gee subtiele wenke oor sekere elemente van die storie, net genoeg om nie die oomblik te bederf wanneer die kloutjie en die oortjie mekaar vind nie. Hierdie is ’n heel oorspronklike storielyn wat ek geweldig baie geniet het, selfs ’n traan afgevee het.

The boy and the Whale shark

Highly recommended for children with skin ailments. A wonderful story.

For people that enjoy political satire

This is one of the best books I've ever read.
At first, it seems like a simple story about farm animals who rebel against their owner in search of a better life. However, as the story progresses it becomes clear that Orwell is making a much deeper point about politics, corruption and power.
What I found most interesting was how the pigs slowly become just as bad as the humans they replaced. Napoleon’s rise to power feels frustrating to watch, especially because the other animals trust him so easily. Characters like Boxer are particularly memorable because they show how loyalty and hard work can be taken advantage of by those in authority.
Although Animal Farm is based on historical events, its message still feels relevant today. The book highlights how propaganda, misinformation, and blind trust in leaders can allow people to gain and abuse power. Orwell presents these ideas in a way that is easy to understand without making the story feel like a history lesson.
Overall, I really enjoyed Animal Farm. Its simple writing style makes it accessible, but the themes are complex and thought-provoking. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys books that make you think about society and human nature or just people that really enjoy political satire.

Twee pragtige verhale van verlies en oorwinning

Met die pragtige Helene de Kock Inspirasie-omnibus in my hand, het ek vrymoedigheid geneem om by die skrywer aan te klop met ’n paar vrae, wat sy goedgunstiglik beantwoord het.
Ek wou in die eerste plek weet of sy sulke romans wat vir herpublikasie oorweeg word, moet redigeer. Haar antwoord was baie duidelik en goed gemotiveer: sy skaaf nooit aan heruitgawes nie omdat dit goed is dat lesers ’n boek binne sy tydvak lees. “Al beweeg die karakters teen die tydsgees in”, het sy gesê.
Verder wou ek weet of sy, as skrywer, insae het in die keuse van boeke vir ‘n omnibus, waarop sy positief geantwoord het dat sy wel insae het en dit moet goedkeur.
Die produk van hierdie proses is die kombinasie van Kruispad vir Kara, oorspronklik uitgegee in 2018, en Engel op die drumpel, uitgegee in 1999. Daar is nogal heelwat raakpunte tussen hierdie twee romans in die geestelike fiksie genre. Die hoofkarakters in albei is studente aan Tukkies en albei is pratige meisies wat die aandag trek van mansstudente wat sosiale en akademiese aansien geniet. Jannes Conradie en Hein Leroux deel egter ’n swakte: hulle is nie ouens wat erns maak met verhoudings nie.
Liriese taalgebruik en goeie kennis van die Woord asook die gawe om dit toepaslik in die storielyn te verweef, maak van Helene de Kock se boeke iets besonders, sonder om prekerig oor te kom. Haar karakters ly verlies, hulle voer ’n geloofstryd, het baie wroeging, en hulle moet indringend selfondersoek doen alvorens daar uiteindelik oorwinning kom. Vir die romantiese siele is daar ook die belofte van liefde wat oorwin.
Die Inspirasie-omnibus is uitgegee deur Lux Verbi, die geestelike druknaam van Jonathan Ball Uitgewers. Jy sal dit oral in goeie boekwinkels kan opspoor.

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Miracle Men

Warriors

The Race to Be Myself

Riding Life

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