South African racewalker Edna Brand heads to Madeira for European Masters Championships

South African masters athlete Edna Brand from Somerset West will be heading out to Madeira Island for the European Masters Championships on Monday, October 6.

The championships will take place from Wednesday, 8, to Sunday, 19 October.

Ms Brand, who has been an athlete for almost three decades, will take part in the 5 000m track racewalk and a 10km and 20km road racewalk.

The 73-year-old mother of three children and grandmother of three started racewalking at the age of 45.

“I love racewalking because it is challenging and I like pushing myself. In the process, many wonderful people have touched my life. I hope I have inspired at least a few people,” she said.

Ms Brand is no stranger to representing South Africa internationally. She previously competed in the annual World Masters Athletics Championships, for which she travelled to Finland in 2022, Poland in 2023 and Sweden in 2024.

A member of Strand Athletics Club, Ms Brand has been training since January this year.

“I had a torn meniscus and had a knee procedure shortly after coming back from the World Masters Athletics Championships in  Sweden last year. So it was three months off the road for me and I had to start right from scratch in mid-January this year. 

“It was a question of building it up slowly, and now I am training six days per week, not on any track, just on the road.

"For the first time, I now have a remote coach in Portugal who has offered to train me” she said.

Ms Brand is one of a few masters athletes who will represent Team SA this year.

Although she cannot bring home medals from the European Masters Championships - since athletes from non-European countries receive certificates instead - she looks forward to representing her country with pride.

“We are only four athletes taking part for South Africa as opposed to last year's team of 42 athletes in Gothenburg, Sweden where we were 14th on the medal list.

“Unfortunately, being from a non-European country, we cannot earn medals, only certificates, but the competition is outstanding.

“Taking part internationally and representing my country was a dream come true for the first time in 2022 at the age of 70 in Finland.

“Hearing the South African anthem being played twice as I stood on the podium with my gold was very emotional. The year after it was in Poland, then Gothenburg, managing to bring home medal every time,” she said.

Ms Brand said she is blessed to have the support of her caring family and community at Heritage Manor in Somerset West, who always support her fundraising efforts.

“When I am not training, I plan and execute functions for fundraising for my next international participation, as we receive no funding from our athletics body.  I also enjoy going for walks, reading, and playing table tennis.

“I am learning to play snooker, but that is still very challenging for me,” she added.