Smit to compete for charity

Smit has entered the Standard Bank IRONMAN® 70.3® Durban taking place on Sunday 2 August 2015 at SUNCOAST.

The Bok icon will be competing for a good cause as he races in orange for the IRONMAN 4 the Kidz Charity Trust, raising funds for children’s based beneficiaries in Durban.

Smit still finds the time to keep fit despite plying his trade in the boardroom these days.

The physical nature of rugby is very different to the physical nature of an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon where Smit will swim 1.9km, bike 90.1km and run 21.km in under 8.5 hours.

“Staying active is important and after the cycling bug bit me I wanted to try something a little different. The training has been interesting to say the least with time in the pool being the toughest challenge. Swimming bored me at school and it still bores me now [but] thank goodness it comes first so I shouldn’t be that tired!” says Smit. “I’ll be okay on the bike but the run is going to be tricky as I have yet to run more than 10km ever! Then there is the swim, which I last did eight years ago before my shoulder surgery [but] I should be fine.”

Smit will be racing under the IRONMAN 4 the Kidz Charity Trust banner and will feature in the popular orange charity racing vests.

Participating while making a difference to children in need is an extra motivator for Smit who joins fellow national heroes, Ollie Le Roux, Werner Swanepoel, Ashwin Willemse and Andre Nel as athletes who have represented the Charity Trust at previous events.

The Springbok connection with the IRONMAN 4 the Kidz Charity Trust is strong having been founded by former Springbok scrumhalf, Garth Wright, and his business partner, Gary Stephenson.

“Without doubt, doing it [for the IRONMAN 4 the Kidz Charity Trust] puts way more pressure on making sure I finish! The fact that it is in aid of those less fortunate is a fantastic motivator,” says Smit.

As a proud Durban local and someone at the forefront of sports promotion in the city, Smit is excited about major sport events and brands such as this coming to the city, saying: “I love the fact that Durban is fast becoming South Africa’s sporting capital as it should be with the best climate around. Having an event like Ironman [70.3] here shows the faith this great brand has in a city like Durban.”

(File Photo: Howard Cleland)

Twitter - @SportswaveAndre

Facebook - ECRSportswave