I’m listening to my body – Johannes

Limba MupetamiWindhoekAfter the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, Helalia Johannes decided to retire from professional running. She however confirmed to the Namibian Sun sports desk that she has now pulled back on her decision and will continue running until her body tells her to stop.Johannes said she is listening to her body and so far, all is good. Just over the weekend, she took second place overall in the 10 km Spar Women’s Grand Prix Series in Durban. “I’m listening to my body – if it responds positively, I will continue running, if not, then I will stop. At the moment, my time is not giving me any indication to stop running,” the athlete said.Johannes, who was born in Oshali in the Ohangwena Region, holds the Namibian records in the 10 km, 20 km, half-marathon and marathon events.She is a five-time winner of the Two Oceans Half Marathon and holds the current record of 01:10:29. At 39 years of age, she became a World Championships bronze medallist in the marathon. She represented Namibia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics and 2018 Commonwealth Games and has won medals at the World Championships, Military World Games, the All-Africa Games and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She also won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018. In 2019, Johannes broke three Namibian records to win the Nagoya Marathon in a time of 2:22:25. She then broke the Namibian half-marathon record in April at the Two Oceans Half Marathon in Cape Town, running a winning time of 1:10:30. She then proceeded to break the 10 km record in Port Elizabeth with a time of 31.50.In September of the same year, she achieved her greatest career milestone by earning a medal at the Athletics World Championships, when she finished third in the marathon.In December 2020, she broke her own national marathon record after placing third at the Valencia Marathon in a time of 2:19:52; with this achievement, Namibia became the third African country to break the 2:20 barrier in women’s marathon after Kenya and Ethiopia.Where it startedHer running career started with the Namibia School Sports Union. She stopped running in high school, as there wasn’t a platform for the sport during that time.“After grade 12, I moved to Windhoek and joined the Sunshine Club and was coached by the current president of Athletics Namibia, Erwin Naimhwaka. I started off with the 10 and 21 km,” she added.Johannes said that she always had a burning desire to represent Namibia at the Olympic Games and in 2006 she switched to road running.“I kept improving in the 21 km and the marathon and the rest is history,” said the Namibian road-running queen.She said if she decides to retire, she will go back to her training group and assist her coach Robert Kaxuxuena to mould and groom the next big names in marathon running.Johannes’ last words to those who aspire to one day reach her level or to even surpass it, is that achievements come with responsibilities. “Don’t give up on your dreams. Achievements come with a huge package of hard work and perseverance,” she concluded.

I’m listening to my body – Johannes

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

Please login to leave a comment

I’m listening to my body – Johannes

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

Please login to leave a comment

Login