Shawna Thunder, who has represented South Africa in a number of sporting disciplines, has been so inspired by the physiotherapy and rehabilitation work Debbie Cameron has done with her and her son Corbin, a professional rugby player, that she has decided to do the Ironman 70.3 on 1 June 2025! “I am testing the ‘old’ body out, and so far, so good,” comments Shawna. The team at Debbie Cameron Physiotherapy will be routing for her! Both Shawna and Corbin are evidence that passion and determination go a long way in sport.
When it comes to sport, whatever Shawna touches turns to gold. When she talks about her athletic journey, she is ridiculously humble about her achievements, and always focuses on the fun, friends made, and appreciation for every discipline.
At Kloof High, Shawna loved swimming, netball, hockey and athletics. After school, she was ready to participate in the World Aerobics Gymnastics Champs, but South Africa was sanctioned, and that dream wasn’t fulfilled. Shawna just moved onto another discipline with the same unmatched enthusiasm. Body Building (drug-free division) was up next, and at the age of 24 she represented South Africa and competed in America. It was here that she fell pregnant, and her attention turned to kick boxing and teaching aerobics at Players Gym and Sharper Image, prior to the arrival of Virgin Active.
In 2004 she completed the Midmar Mile, and her brother-in-law said (jokingly) ‘you might as well do the 2005 Comrades Marathon’. With only three months of training left, Shawna did the Midlands Marathon, the last qualifier and completed the Ultimate Human Race in an incredible time of 9h45. That year was also her 10-year wedding anniversary, and her husband Rob bought them both bicycles to celebrate. I am sure he didn’t anticipate that two years later his wife would be representing South Africa in France where she came fifth, in her age group, in the MTB Cross Country category. Once again, when telling the story, Shawna focuses on her teammates Amy Mundy and Tania Raats, and the incredible opportunity.
On that note, Shawna says that her greatest experience was the Cape Epic in 2008, where she and her partner, Glynis Pretorius finished, 7th overall. A couple of weeks before the event, Glynis called to say her partner couldn’t make it and was Shawna keen to take her place? For a cyclist, this is the equivalent to winning the lottery!
Other than the Epic, Shawna also did Trans Baviaans and Sani2C Non-Stop (250kms off-road), amongst everything else that was on the cards – Karkloof Classic, Illovo Eston, Hill2Hill, Giant’s Castle…
2010 was the start of Shawna’s Triathlon era which reignited her love for swimming from school days. She competed in the Iron Man and loved it, and in 2012 got her KZN Colours for Triathlon. Sadly, she crashed her bike at the competition where she would have received her SA Colours for Triathlon.
After swim, run, cycle, Kettlebells were introduced to South Africa and like everything to do with strength and movement, Shawna was on it, completing the instructor’s course and coaching at Flux.
"At 55, Shawna is a force to be reckoned with and this same tenacity is evident in her focused and passionate children – Savanna, Kelton and Corbin" says Debbie.
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