ERIN STERKENBURG
Erin Sterkenburg began her rock climbing career in 2017 at Westville Girls’ High School and very quickly achieved success at provincial and national championships. Her natural talent, dedication and hard work has led her to become the top-ranked female youth climber in SA and receiving Protea Colours from the National Climbing Federation in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Erin has represented SA at the Youth World Climbing Championships in both 2018 and 2019. In 2020, she represented SA at the Africa Cup Olympic qualifier tournament, where she placed first in all three disciplines – lead climbing, speed climbing and bouldering. Due to her excellent achievements, Erin has been selected as a member of the South African Olympic team – the only female rock climber from Africa who will be attending the event in Tokyo later this year.
Now in Grade 12, Erin has made a substantial impact on our school. A high academic achiever and leader, Erin was awarded the Honours balzer by the school in recognition of her outstanding achievements.
We wish Erin and the rest of Team SA safe travels and all the best for the Tokyo Olympics.
- 031 266 1258
- school@wghs.co.za
- www.wghs.co.za
EMMA PRINSLOO
St Mary’s Old Girl, Emma Prinsloo (née Chelius – matric 2013) is doing us proud by representing South Africa as part of the RSA 4×100 relay team; the first ever female RSA team to qualify for the Olympics. “I have always loved being in the water,” says Emma, “I swam for my school swimming team and started competing for a club at around 11. I started at St Mary’s in Grade 8, after being awarded a sports scholarship for my swimming, and the strength of the team was a huge motivation to attend St Mary’s. My teachers were also extremely understanding and still pushed me to reach my full potential. I am such a proud Saints Old Girl and I will always cherish my time at school.”
Mrs Jan Nicklin, Head of Sport at St Mary’s, was delighted to hear of the amazing news and says, “At school Emma was so committed and sacrificed a lot for her swimming. We are very proud of her making the Olympic team”.
- 031 764 9855
- marketing@stmarysdsg.co.za
- www.stmarysdsg.co.za
ERIN GALLAGHER
Erin Gallagher (St Mary’s matric 2016) and a passionate Saints’ Old Girl, has reached the pinnacle of her success by representing South Africa as a part of the RSA 4×100 relay team, who are the first ever female RSA team to qualify for the Olympics. When interviewed previously Erin said, “I have no words to describe just how accommodating and supportive St Mary’s was during my high school career. If I could, I would go back and start all over again. If it weren’t for St Mary’s, I don’t think my swimming would’ve turned out the way it has, I owe a lot of what I have accomplished to this amazing school. Their constant support and complete and utter willingness to allow me to travel around the world to compete, and give of their own personal time to help me catch up on the copious amounts of work that I missed, certainly didn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated.”
“Erin is so deserving of her selection to the Olympic team. She was always so committed at school. We are very proud of her,” says Head of Sport at St Mary’s, Mrs Jan Nicklin.
- 031 764 9855
- marketing@stmarysdsg.co.za
- www.stmarysdsg.co.za