News24 | Equestrian vaulter, 16, aims for new heights after historic international debut

• Sixteen-year-old vaulter Ashley Lupondo is rebuilding after a difficult World Championships debut marked by financial, logistical and emotional challenges.
• Her international breakthrough was only made possible through donor funding, volunteer coaching and support from sporting bodies.
• She now aims to qualify locally for future international competitions while balancing school, limited training access and high expectations.

Sixteen-year-old equestrian vaulter Ashley Lupondo is preparing to re-enter the competitive season following a difficult performance at the FEI Junior World Vaulting Championships and a year marked by significant financial strain, training limitations and high expectations.

Lupondo, who was born and bred in Johannesburg, is in Grade 10 at Northview Secondary School.

She was introduced to vaulting through her father’s colleagues, who noticed her agility.

“My dad’s colleagues saw potential in me because I was always doing tricks at the park and on the trampoline. They looked for a sport that would suit me and found vaulting,” she says.

“I remember my first lesson… I had never seen anything like it, and I immediately knew I wanted to try it.”

Vaulting requires access to specialised horses, coaches and facilities, creating barriers for young athletes entering the discipline.

Lupondo’s early training access depended heavily on coaches who volunteered their time or trained her at no charge, and lessons were often limited by availability and cost.

She says her progress has been largely dependent on external support.

“Financially, it has been really difficult.”

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“At home, we don’t have much, so the support around me is what keeps me going. Without [Vaulting Association SA president Joanna Goeller], Discover Sport, Zim Federation, and even help from a European lady, I wouldn’t have made it overseas.”

Before travelling to Europe, Lupondo faced several administrative hurdles. Her passport had expired, and securing a Schengen visa required multiple visits and additional documentation that her family struggled to cover.

Her entry into the World Championships came with a series of firsts for the vaulting newcomer. A first trip abroad, a first aeroplane experience and the first Zimbabwean to ever compete globally in Equestrian Vaulting.

“This year, I put too much pressure on myself, and my family also had high expectations because I usually place first or second here in Johannesburg,” she says.

“They didn’t fully understand how tough international competitions are.”

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The pressure became real, and nerves quickly overshadowed the excitement abroad once she hit the arena.

“I freaked out,” Lupondo recalls.

“I felt extremely anxious in the arena, things just started playing out in my head, I didn’t have any familiar faces or family around me, and I wasn’t sure how Einstein (her horse) would manage me.”

Her performance at the championships wasn’t the fairytale ending she had imagined, and according to her, the emotional impact lingered long after she returned home.

“It did not go well for Einstein and me, and it broke my heart, actually,” she says.

“I remember running out of the arena, and my Dutch trainer, Cynthia Danvers, was there, and she gave me a big hug, and she said, It’s okay. It’s okay. You both freaked out, but it’s okay.”

Despite the setback, Lupondo is focused on recalibrating her goals and qualifying locally.

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“For next year, my goal is to qualify for the CVI here in Midrand. I know qualifying overseas is very tough, so I want to focus on qualifying locally so I can compete internationally again.”

Balancing school with training and travel remains an ongoing logistical challenge.

Lupondo said the school provides work to complete while away, and her training schedule remains fixed around her academic timetable.

“When I travel for competitions, I let the school know, and they give me schoolwork to do while I’m away. When I’m home, I train twice a week - at 4 pm on Tuesdays and Saturdays.”

Her competitive drive, she says, comes from aiming for high placements and attempting skills that set her apart.

She added:

“I also crave competition. I always want to go for gold. Trying difficult tricks that I know other vaulters can’t do also keeps me driven.”

Lupondo also participates in high jump and track earlier in the school year, but shifts her focus exclusively to vaulting during the competitive season.

“When I’m not vaulting, I love doing high jump. I think many vaulters have that natural spring. I also enjoy track.”

Looking to the next World Championships, Lupondo’s objective is to reduce pressure and prioritise consistency.

“I just want to enjoy myself, do my best, and express myself in a way that makes me happy.”

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