​​It is not unusual for Nienka du Toit (19), SA Junior Heptathlon champion and first-year student at Stellenbosch University to spend up to three hours per day on the athletics field or in the gymnasium.

In her grade 9 year at Bloemhof Girls' High, she decided to concentrate on the heptathlon event and it is her dream to represent South Africa at the World Student Games and eventually the Olympic Games one day.

"They are big dreams," she says, "but I feel that if your dreams don't scare you they are not big enough. Athletics is my passion. Whenever things become a little too much for me, these dreams motivate me to keep on fighting."

Heptathlon consists of high jump, long jump, shot put, javelin, 200m, 800m and 100m hurdles. Nienka competed in four of these items at the Africa Junior Athletics Championships in Lusaka, Zambia, in June and won a gold medal in the high jump as well as three silver medals (in long jump, 100m hurdles and shot put). She used this meeting as preparation for the African Senior Athletics Championships that took place a week later.

"My achievements (in Zambia) still feel unreal. Your goal when you go to these events is always to do well, but two personal bests and four medals were more than I could have hoped for. These big meetings also prepare you for the international events that are still to come."

At the meeting for senior African athletes she achieved the best distance for heptathlon athletes in the shot put. She currently earns most of her points in the hurdles item and the least in the 800m.

The challenge for a multi-sport athlete is to maintain a good balance and there is always the risk of injuries because one has to train for so many different items.

"Thanks to my coach, Seef le Roux, who writes my programme I manage to make time for all my items. I have a busy schedule, but I trust Seef and his programme makes training enjoyable because I know it is going to work."

This first-year BSc student says she is very grateful to her Heemstede residence friends who assist her with her academic obligations.

"They are incredibly supportive with work that I have missed and sit up until late at night to help me with assignments. It is definitely a challenge to fit in enough sleep, exercise and study time and without the help of my friends and family I wouldn't have been able to do that."

Her parents and coach play a big role in her life and the fact that she can rely on them to support her contributes to her success.

Despite the challenges she would still encourage other students to take part in an activity, be it sport or culture.

"It does require a lot of hard work, but it is definitely possible. The fact that I can do both (my athletics and studies) and is afforded the opportunity to achieve my dreams, gives me great satisfaction. There are so many people who never get the opportunities that are offered to me and I will do my best to be an inspiration to others."