Wishing Warren Well for Beijing

8 August 2007

Warren Wellbeloved is a young man on the move in more ways than one.

An employee for Manganese at BHP Billiton’s Johannesburg headquarters where he is learning his craft as an engineer in training, he is also an exceptional rower and is balancing his work commitments with his ongoing quest to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a member of South Africa’s lightweight men’s coxless four.

“I receive fantastic support from the Manganese team, who have structured my position to allow me to fulfil my training and touring commitments,” Warren said.

“With rowing being an amateur sport in South Africa, it would be impossible for me to train and compete at the level I do without the support of the company.

‘Hopefully if we qualify for the Games, then I can do the company proud and repay them for the support they have given me in the lead-up.”

Warren will aim to reach his goal of qualifying for the Olympics when his crew competes at the World Rowing Championships in Munich later this month – the final qualifying event for Beijing.

“The competition at the World Championships will be exceptionally tough but I am confident that we will put in a good showing,” he said.

Yet it has taken far more than just attending competitive regattas to turn his Olympic dream into reality. Warren and his crew-mates train at least 14 times a week, consisting of 12 rowing sessions morning and night and two weights sessions. Sunday is Warren’s one day of rest and is usually spent recovering.

Should Warren fulfil his Olympic dream, it will add to his already impressive array of rowing accolades which he has collected over time as one of South Africa’s most talented young athletes.

Over the past seven years he has won various South African National Championship titles and made history by winning South Africa’s first ever World Championship medal when he finished second at the 2000 Junior World Championships in the Coxless Four. He won a silver medal racing at the World Championships in Italy in 2002 and last year took out a gold and bronze medal at the Commonwealth Rowing Championships in Scotland.

It’s a remarkable list of achievements for someone who began his sporting career doubting his ability.

“The way I got into rowing was quite simple. At school we had to play a sport in the summer time. I tried out for the cricket team, but found out quite quickly that I wasn’t very good.

“So I tried my hand at rowing, and the rest is now history.

“It’s just a really good example of how when one door closes another one opens.

“Little did I realise that the coach’s decision to leave me out of that cricket team would one day lead to an opportunity to represent South Africa at an Olympic Games.

‘It’s quite amazing the way that things turn out,” he said.