Gqeberha-born hockey star Nomnikelo “Nicky” Veto realised a lifelong ambition when she was named in the national women’s squad for the Tokyo Olympic Games in July.
The 24-year-old Wits University graduate said this was a dream come true and feels it is the pinnacle of her career.
Veto, a former Victoria Park High pupil, expressed excitement at the prospect of going up against some of the world’s leading nations in Tokyo.
Joining Veto in the 16-member squad announced by Sascoc on Thursday are other Bay stars Edith Molikoe (ex-Woodridge) and Toni Marks (ex-Collegiate).
“In the last few years I have dedicated my life to hockey, so to get this opportunity now is amazing,” Veto said.
Born and raised in the Walmer location, Veto played hockey from a young age while attending Clarendon Park Primary.
When she was in grade 11 in 2014 she was selected to represent the Eastern Province U18 side.
The past 18 months have been anything but easy for sportsmen and women across the globe due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it was no different for Veto.
“Looking back on the last year, we weren’t even sure if the Olympics would even be happening. It has been a journey of trying to stay fit for when it was announced that the Games would go ahead,” she said.
Veto said she managed to keep her training to an acceptable level throughout the lockdown, making use of home-based workouts to stay in shape.
“I think training started getting more intense from the moment we knew that the Games would be on again.
“It’s not that I have been training harder than the girls who didn’t make it. I respect everyone who I have been on this journey with and I am sad for those who did not make it, because it might be people who I have been very close with.”
Veto said that when she saw her name on the list, she felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and she was happy for her family who had helped her get to this point.
“I felt really blessed. I lost my mum in my matric year, and was really grateful for what I had achieved, not only for myself, but also for my township.
“It is not every day that a child from the township, who grew up in a shack, makes it to the world stage.
“I don’t want to glamourise the situation of poverty, because it is not glamorous, but if someone can come from tough times and make it, it’s really beautiful, not for them, but for the people who made them reach that point.
“I am really grateful to the coaches, the people who have been part of this journey, both my grandmothers, and I am really grateful to them for this moment. I am happy to have people who believed in me when I didn’t necessarily believe in myself.”