Willie Smit Grew Up Roaming The Streets Of Lydenburg, Mpumalanga. With The Support Of Friends And Family He Managed To Rise Above The Circumstances He Was Born Into. Now This Pro Cyclist Rides With The World’s Best Athletes. Here’s How He Climbed To The Top.
THE MAN
WILLIE SMIT
OCCUPATION CYCLIST
MAURO MATALONE
LOCATION JOBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
BY MEGAN FLEMMIT
Cycling through the mountainous region of southern Portugal, Willie Smit was focused on one thing: to finish the Volta ao Algarve with the highest rank possible. The stage race had been tough, but the pro cyclist was determined to succeed. Surrounded by the world’s best cyclists, Willie began descending one of the mountain peaks. When some of them crashed in front of him, Willie had to make a decision in a split second: he had to choose which way to veer, to miss the carnage. But Willie made the wrong decision – and found himself on the side of the road, battered and bruised.
A sharp pain in in his collarbone signalled a possible fracture. Willie was out of the race. But while he felt a twinge of disappointment, he didn’t stay down for long. He’d been injured many times before. Each time, he came back stronger than ever. “People think that when we break a bone, we’re out for a longtime. But in the World Tour team, their finances are good. So when I broke my collarbone, they organised an operation the very next day.”
Willie was flown to Belgium, where a team of doctors operated on him. An osteopath manipulated the bone to allow his body to heal quicker. “It’s very painful, but it’s very safe, and then you’re allowed to continue.” Two days later, Willie was back on his bike.
Esta historia es de la edición January 2019 de Men's Health South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 2019 de Men's Health South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
INSTANT PROGRESS THE 28-DAY PULLUP PLAN
JUST 10 MINUTES A DAY FOR A MONTH CAN PUSH YOU FROM PULLUP ZERO TO YOUR FIRST GREAT REPS.
THE MH INTERVIEW STARTER MUSCLE
THE FIRST STEPS ON A NEW FITNESS JOURNEY ARE OFTEN THE TOUGHEST. BUT WITH A FEW TWEAKS TO YOUR THINKING, PT AND PART-OWNER OF MOTLEY CREW CROSSFIT TYRON HATCH WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO STRIDE TOWARDS THE LOFTIEST GOALS.
15 SMART WAYS TO GET AHEAD IN LIFE (BY DOING LITTLE THINGS BETTER)
Self-improvement needn't be a slog. You can make gains-both marginal and meaningful-simply by approaching your day-to-day tasks with a little extra know-how. We raided the MH archives to compile these truly life-enhancing tips from our expert contributors. It's time to level up.
LOVE & LIKES
WHEN DOES SOCIAL-MEDIA FLIRTING BECOME CHEATING? LET’S TALK IT OUT.
FORCE OF NATURE
THE SAS SOLDIER TURNED TV SURVIVALIST HAS MADE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE HIS BUSINESS. BUT WHAT LESSONS DO HIS METHODS HOLD IN OUR INCREASINGLY URBANISED AND ONLINE WORLD?
COLOGNE BUT WITH
YOU BUY COLOGNE TO STAND OUT. SO WHY NOT REALLY STAND OUT? THESE BOLDER SPRITZES SMELL AWESOME AND LAST LONGER, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN USE LESS. OUR PICKS LEVEL UP IN INTENSITY AS YOU MOVE ALONG THE SPECTRUM.
THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO RUNNING LAPS AROUND THE ECONOMY
CATCHING UP WHEN INFLATION IS ALWAYS OUT TO SET A NEW PB CAN FEEL IMPOSSIBLE. PUT THESE 11 EXPERT-APPROVED LESSONS INTO ACTION TO DUCK AND WEAVE AROUND YOUR MONEY WOES
WHY 30-MINUTE WORKOUTS WILL WORK FOR YOU
LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO EXERCISING FOR FITNESS, STRENGTH AND HEALTH.
UNFREEZE YOUR MIND
ALL MY LIFE, I THOUGHT I WAS A COWARD. THEN I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAL NAME FOR WHAT I'D BEEN FEELING WAS ANXIETY- AND I WAS IN GOOD COMPANY.
DARK PLACES
For any surfer, taking on the monster waves at Nazaré in Portugal is a death-defying risk. For Matt Formston, there's another consideration: he's blind.