Excellence begets excellence. For the North-West University’s (NWU’s) High Performance Institute (HPI) in Potchefstroom, that cannot be truer. Since its inception, the HPI has played host to a multitude of sportsmen and women from the province, the country and the globe.

The high altitude, safe environment and friendliness of its staff have made the HPI a center of excellence that caters for every conceivable need. Among its skilled staff members are sport scientists, medical staff, physiotherapists and expertise coaches.

It is no wonder that the HPI has been named the North West’s top tourist destination by the South African Tourism Board.

Up until the end of March 2019 the HPI received visitors from 31 countries – mainly European. In fact, Europeans account for 87,98% of the 524 visitors, representing sport codes such as athletics, tennis and cricket.  

Currently athletes from Poland and Hungary call Potchefstroom their temporary home, and cricket teams from Canada and Afghanistan are honing their skills on the NWU’s turf.

From the end of April to early May the Proteas and Pakistan women cricket team will be seeking boundaries and chasing wickets. A squad of Argentinian rugby players will train at the HPI from 1 July to 1 September while they compete in the Currie Cup’s first division.

With the IAAF World Championships in September and October and the Olympic Games in 2020, the HPI is preparing for the usual influx of international athletes.

Based on the turnstiles at the HPI’s gymnasium, the gym is visited more than 9 000 times a month. That is indeed a testament to the HPI’s enduring popularity. 

The NWU’s High Performance Institute caters for athletes’ every conceivable need.