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SPORTING BACKGROUND: Angeline Tshiyane

The British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSAs) take place at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane on February 6. The Voice of Sport’s Ayo Odumade talks to Unsung Hero nominee Angeline Tshiyane…

WHEN SWIMMING enthusiast Angeline Tshiyane arrived in Newport, Wales in 2000 from her native Zimbabwe, she found that it was difficult to integrate here.

However, the 52 year-old has found her feet and is proving to be an inspiration within her community. She was determined to succeed and used her sport as a catalyst to make new friends.

She the told the Voice of Sport: “Having come from a sporting background in Zimbabwe I felt getting a lot of people involved in sport would help.

“I felt that setting up a charity would help people to come out of their shell, get them to know their surroundings and community and make friends.

“I was working with people on a one to one basis. I was helping them to read, watch a movie with them and helping them to swim. At the time I came here there were not many of us in Newport.

“I thought to myself why don’t I start something that would help more people instead of the a few I help right now; the Zimbabwean community of women helped me so we got together to help each other.”

One of the projects she decided to set up was a swimming club. “When I started the swimming project it was because people knew I could swim due to my teaching some of them on a one to one basis.

“People said it was difficult for them to sign their kids up for swimming lessons. We decided to start our own swimming club.

When she was asked why she thought most black people did not swim at competition level she said: “If the BAME have the right support technically and financially it is quite possible they can be competitive in swimming.

“They just need the right equipment, money and support or any other discipline for that matter. It is not just a British thing. Where I came from in Zimbabwe I was the only black swimmer at my club.

“In Newport young people are interested but as they get older swimming is not a priority. They do not have the guidance and encouragement from role models.

INSPIRATION: American tennis ace Serena Williams

“Their parents are also struggling to make ends meet. It is being perceived to be a white man’s sport.

Angeline says that her inspiration comes from tennis queen Serena Williams. “She is a good example of a role model to BAME people.

“She overcame quite a lot of hurdles and disadvantages. Nothing stopped her from achieving her goal and she is still going today.

“I thought if Serena could do it why can’t any BAME man or woman not achieve what they want to achieve?

INSPIRATION: Angeline Tshiyane

HERO: Tennis ace Williams