Sizwe Laurence Ndlovu, the 32-year-old who was part of the lightweight fours victory, was a beneficiary 10 years ago of an award named after former SA cricket captain Jack Cheetham.

Sowetan was a partner in the award, along with Sascoc and Murray & Roberts, of which Cheetham, who died in 1980, was a director.

The partnership joined Rowing South Africa in a bid to transform the sport, especially at school level.

Ndlovu was one of the talents identified. He had discovered rowing as a sport in 1996 while a pupil at Mondeor High School in Johannesburg.

Ndlovu was later selected to row in the South African junior team, where he has had some spectacular performances, including first place in the 2002 Commonwealth Games and gold in the 2002 African Championships.

He also took part in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

In 2002 Ndlovu and his fellow rowers received a shot in the arm, winning the annual Jack Cheetham Award.

Some of the money from the award was used to fund a container-load of used boats from Switzerland and to establish rowing at several schools, including Mondeor High.

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Comments

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Wed Jun 19 11:25:55 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 3, 2012

Ditete

Well Done boys, you have shown the world what South Africans are made of!
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Aug 3, 2012

maneater

only GOLD only GOLD i so love being a South African!!!!!
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Aug 3, 2012

moisa

WELL DONE SOWETAN, TRANSFORMATION SHOULD START AT THE GRASS ROOT NOT ON TOP. EVERYONE IS FIGHTING FOR SPOTLIGHT WHEN PERFORMANCE IS AT PEAK BUT ONLY FEW WANT TO START AT THE BASICS
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Aug 3, 2012

Stumaeza

Congrats gents
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Aug 3, 2012

Sinudeity_

Well done boys! Black and white working together to come out tops!
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Aug 3, 2012

Mellow

Sowetan this was a team effort not just about Ndlovu geez looks like you want to steal the spotlight by making it bout you you did good now back to Olympics

Congra again to the boys made us proud
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Aug 3, 2012

MommaC

This is an excellent example of what can be achieved if schools get sporting equipment. A bunch of second hand boats changed his world - and ours :)

What a bunch of heroes they are. Nobody mentions the training sessions where they train until they puke or the number of parties missed and freezing mornings on the damn they had to go through. Truly special young men who so very much deserved that gold
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Aug 3, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Tjessses i tried that rowing machine at gym today I did not last a minute rowing is hard guys!!!! Congrats gents I was shocked I never thought we could win another medal apart from swimming or athletics!!
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Aug 3, 2012

MGEEZ

Congratulations guys; you made us very proud!!!
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Aug 3, 2012

GrRRRpha

Well done guys, considering you funded your training from your own pockets. Big ups, better than politicians
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