In a world where those who give the most often ask for the least, one local hero has long served the community and now finds himself in need of it.
Shiven Bodasing, an SPCA inspector, candidate attorney, and South Africa's highest technical-scoring adult national figure skating champion, is seeking public support to represent South Africa at the international ISU Adult Figure Skating Championships.
From a young age, Bodasing was driven to make a difference. His path began in animal welfare, first as an SPCA inspector and later as a manager, where he became a voice for the voiceless.
Bodasing said his drive to make a meaningful and lasting difference is what pushed him into law, a path he chose so he could stand up for justice, especially for the people whose voices are so often ignored.
Being part of the LGBT community meant his journey was not only professional but deeply personal. Every barrier he encountered, every moment he had to fight to be seen and heard, became fuel. It strengthened his resolve, sharpened his purpose, and reinforced his commitment to building a society where no one is excluded. Those experiences, he shared, continue to shape the person and advocate he is today.
Bodasing said his passion for figure skating was discovered during COVID.
“What began as a spontaneous visit to a Johannesburg rink quickly grew into a life-changing passion. The discipline, artistry, and mental strength the sport demanded mirrored my own journey and gave me a new arena to express myself and inspire others.”
Bodasing said that since 2020, he has thrown everything into figure skating, training before sunrise, paying for his own coaching, equipment, and ice time. He said the commitment has paid off, as he has since earned six gold medals and achieved the highest technical score among adult skaters in South Africa, securing the title of South African Adult Champion.
He also revealed that as a self-funded athlete who splits his time between his legal career, SPCA duties, and training, this dream, and the chance to fly the South African flag internationally, will rely heavily on public support. Funding is needed to cover training, coaching, equipment, travel, and competition entry fees.
If successful, Bodasing will become the first South African to compete in his division at the 2026 ISU Adult Figure Skating Championships, taking place in Oberstdorf, Germany, from May 17–22.
Those who wish to help Bodasing take South Africa to the world stage can contribute to his BackaBuddy campaign at: The Relentless Pursuit of a Dream | BackaBuddyhttps://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/the-relentless-pursuit-of-a-dream
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za