NWU Mafikeng Campus student secures victory at international multi-sports festival

Tshiamiso Skosana, a student from the North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), scooped top honours at one of the world's inclusive and popular sporting festivals, which was recently launched in South Africa and is the first to hit the African continent.

The Arnold Sports Festival is the largest multi-sports festival, with more than 10 000 athletes competing in 47 sporting codes and events internationally. The North-West University (Mafikeng Campus) is the first in Africa and one of the first universities in South Africa to have ever scooped such an award in the recent Inaugural Arnold Classics Africa.

The Arnold Classics Africa saw third-year bachelor of education student, Skosana, competing in an intense, hard-hitting clash with women around the world in the 166cm Women's Bikini Fitness category, where she took first place in her category.

The signature event is in conjunction with the Arnold Classic International Partnership in Madrid, Rio and Melbourne, and has now partnered with the Gauteng Provincial Government, and the SA Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). The African event will form the latest leg of the Arnold Sports Festival, adding to established spectacles in the United States, Australia, Europe and South America.

"What an overwhelming and humbling experience, such a great honour to be part of this prestigious event and ultimately winning. It's all in the mind; if you set a goal and work towards achieving it, it can come true. My mandate now is inspiring other women and girls to keep fit and show them they can also do it in this male-dominated industry," Skosana said.

All winners were personally applauded by Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is a seven-time Olympian, Hollywood star and former California governor.

The third-year education student has now been appointed the first ever female head coach and fitness trainer for bodybuilding at the North-West University (Mafikeng Campus) and is due to compete at the Annual Miss South Africa Xtreme, due to take place on 26 July.