Western Cape athletes make history in Italy

Western Cape athletes make history in Italy

 24 July 2026

Four Western Cape athletes made history this month on the inaugural World Wide Scholarship (WWS) and Western Cape Schools (WCS) Europe Tour 2026.

The athletes competed in Celle, Italy, on 16 July. The tour marked the first time that Western Cape Schools Athletics (WCSA) had taken athletes to compete in Europe.

Lamicah Adamson of La Rochelle Girls' High School led the team's success. She won the Girls U15 80m event in 10.09 seconds. Her victory highlighted the strength of Western Cape athletics on the international stage.

Aneeq Salie of Stellenberg High School and Aushwin-Leigh Jantjies of Barrydale High School competed in the Boys U19 400m event. Both finished among the top 20 senior competitors.

Miché van Staden of Curro Durbanville competed in the Girls U19 100m and 200m events. She secured a top 10 finish in the 100m against senior athletes.

The athletes also received mentorship from South African Olympic silver medallist and World Championships medallist Luvo Manyonga. He shared insights on competing at the highest level and building a successful sporting career.

The tour gave the athletes valuable international exposure. It also provided opportunities for personal growth and cultural exchange.

Following the success of the inaugural tour, organisers are exploring plans to expand the initiative. The goal is to establish the Europe Tour as an annual opportunity for top-performing Western Cape school athletes.

The athletes' achievements showcase the depth of talent in Western Cape schools. They also demonstrate the value of creating international opportunities for young sports stars.