Mathews ‘’Loop-en-val’’ Motshwarateu

Born: 2 November 1958
Died: 2 November 2001
Updated: 3 Nov 2023

Summary

Athlete

Mathews Motshwarateu was born on 2 November 1958 in Soweto. His talent for athletics already became apparent in his primary school years, which he spent at Isaacson Primary. He had a peculiar way of running that made it look like he was about to fall over at any moment. His teachers started calling him “Motshwareng o tlawa”, which is Sotho for “Watch him, he will fall”. Later, sports writer Arrie Joubert would translate the nickname as “Loop-en-Val”, which is the Afrikaans for “Walk-and-Fall”.

How we know this

Last updated · 3 Nov 2023

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, February 17). Mathews ‘’Loop-en-val’’ Motshwarateu. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008671

South African History Online (2011) 'Mathews ‘’Loop-en-val’’ Motshwarateu', South African History Online, 17 February. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008671 (Accessed: 30 August 2026).

South African History Online, Mathews ‘’Loop-en-val’’ Motshwarateu [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008671, (accessed 30 August 2026).

"Mathews ‘’Loop-en-val’’ Motshwarateu." South African History Online, 17 Feb. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008671. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Mathews ‘’Loop-en-val’’ Motshwarateu." South African History Online. February 17, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008671.