Veteran athletics commentator Ian Laxton is lined up as guest speaker at an upcoming meeting of the University of the Third Age (U3A) Helderberg.
Locals will be given the opportunity to put a face to the well-known voice when the sports-media personality addresses audiences at the meeting scheduled to take place at Strand Town Hall on Wednesday 6 March at 10:00.
After a brief overview of the history of the games his talk, entitled “My Olympic Journey”, will focus mainly on the post-modern era, from 1986 onwards. He will cover aspects of South Africa’s participation, the privilege of attending the games as an accredited media person and his personal career as a commentator. He will touch on such highlights as the games in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004), commentating with the TVNZ (New Zealand) team, broadcasting on handball and off-tube commentating in Australia.
Laxton began his career as a TV commentator, writer and producer in 1986 with the first all-day, live coverage of the Comrades Marathon by the SABC. He continued broadcasting on this race for 30 years until retirement beckoned. In this time he also made numerous live broadcasts on road running as well as track and field events on both radio and TV, locally and internationally.
Besides commentating at three Olympic Games, Laxton has also worked on radio and TV at several World Athletics Championships and World Cross-Country Championships, a Commonwealth Games and an All-Africa Games instalment.
Since retiring to Helderberg Village in Somerset West in 2020, he has written a novel, The Final Lap, set in the world of international track meets (“Local pens first novel,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 5 April 2023). The book has received excellent reviews from critics and readers alike.
Laxton is married to former international track, cross-country and road athlete Sonja Laxton (familiar?). They have a daughter, Kim, a specialist psychiatrist in private practice in Johannesburg.
Come and put a face to the very familiar voice of this true commentating Olympian and enjoy his reflections on life as a TV person at the Olympics and in the world of international athletics.
Copies of his book will be available to purchase by arrangement with the author himself.
U3A members enter for free; visitors are required to pay R20 at the door. For enquiries contact Denise Fourie on 072 211 1172.
