NEWS

Debbie Alexander elected as President of Triathlon South Africa

By World Triathlon Admin | 28 May, 2009

When Gideon Sam was elected the new president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) at its Quadrennial General Meeting, he knew that he would not be able to carry on with the many things he still wanted to achieve in his role as President of Triathlon South Africa.  The good news for TSA was that he didn’t leave altogether, but stayed on Vice President.  In his place Dr. Debbie Alexander was elected the new President of TSA.

Professionally, Debbie is a Clinical Psychologist and Head of Department: Principal Clinical Psychologist at Tygerberg Hospital / Senior Lecturer at the Health Sciences Faculty, Stellenbosch University.  She works with children, adolescents and young adults; in the area of Neuropsychology and Developmental Neuropsychology as it relates to sport as well as head injuries.  Debbie is also a member SASCOC Medical and Anti-Doping Commission Committee

When Debbie was asked about her personal philosophy, she said, “I strive to make wisdom my wealth, my purpose is to share that wisdom and in so doing make a difference in the world in which I live.  I choose to lead by example and to surround myself with positive, motivated and dynamic people.  My motto in life is: The choices you make will determine the life you lead.”

“I have chosen to lead triathlon in South Africa because I believe I have the knowledge, experience and drive to make a difference in growing the sport in the country, making it accessible to the broader community and meeting the needs of the athletes.  In terms of surrounding myself with positive people, I have an equally knowledgeable, experienced and motivated team that share my passion and vision for the sport.  In terms of the choices I have made and the life I lead, the rewards in terms of fulfilling my purpose balance the challenges and demands of the position for which I have volunteered.”

Besides Debbie’s hobby as a triathlon administrator, she also enjoys running, water-skiing, paddling and reading.  She is married to Grant and they have three children: Candace, Keaton and Laine.