Kids Haven protege wins medal for South Africa

01 August 2014 - 13:44 By DAVID ISAACSON
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(L-R) Bronze medalist Jill Gallays of Canada, silver medalist Lalita Lalita of India, gold medalist Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria and Mpho Madi of South Africa after the Women's 53kg wrestling at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre during day seven of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 30, 2014 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
(L-R) Bronze medalist Jill Gallays of Canada, silver medalist Lalita Lalita of India, gold medalist Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria and Mpho Madi of South Africa after the Women's 53kg wrestling at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre during day seven of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 30, 2014 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Commonwealth Games medallist Mpho Madi, a product of the Kids Haven home in Benoni, met her future foster mother through wrestling.

Madi, winner of the 53kg freestyle wrestling bronze medal on Wednesday, yesterday described how she first got into the sport during her eight years at the home.

"I used to enjoy watching the other kids training. I used to think wrestling was for boys only," she said. "Then one day the coach invited me to join in."

She never looked back since then.

Madi, now a personal trainer at a top gym in Pretoria, was adopted by the Madi family at birth.

She never knew her biological parents. "Their name was Skosana - that's all I know about them," she said, adding that she was placed at Kids Haven at the age of 12.

"I don't know why they moved me there. I think it was to do with care."

In 2008 she met Amanda van der Watt, her future foster mother at a wrestling tournament. "Her grand-daughter used to wrestle, and we got talking."

Madi still visits Kids Haven, which still holds many fond memories for her. "I had a very good time there. I found everything I needed - family, love. I still go there on my day off."

She has already been invited back to the Benoni wrestling club where she used to train. "The Kids Haven children still train there. I'm going there on Wednesday to show them my medal."

Buoyed by her success in Glasgow, Madi is looking towards Rio 2016. "The Olympics is my dream. I'm going to try qualify for that."

Kids Haven is for mostly street children and abused kids, and Madi has a soft spot for them.

"Some street children are just there looking for love, looking for someone to give them recognition. They want acceptance.

"But some of them are just naughty. I knew one boy from Kids Haven who just wanted to run away all the time."

She also stays in contact with the Madi family. "I do visit them sometimes, we still get on. I forgive them for losing me. It's important to forgive in life, so you can carry on."

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