Thirty years ago, a young man from Tzaneen stood proudly on the podium at the World University Games, a gold medal glinting against his chest, the South African flag draped behind him. This year, his daughter stood in his footsteps—not just as a competitor, but as a new chapter in a remarkable family legacy.
Meet Karmen Fouché, a 22-year-old heptathlete and pharmacy student from North-West University, who just returned from her first FISU World University Games, not only with memories that will last a lifetime, but with dreams as big as the Olympic rings themselves.
A legacy forged in athletics
Karmen didn’t just stumble into the world of track and field—she was born into it. Her father, Louis Fouché, is a former international javelin thrower who struck gold at the Buffalo 1993 FISU World University Games. Her mother, a former heptathlete, also competed at the international level. Together, they form an athletic powerhouse that’s inspired their daughter from her earliest days.
“My parents are definitely my biggest support system,” says Karmen. “My mom is my role model—she also did the heptathlon—and my dad helps me a lot with javelin and shot put. It’s all just working so well as a system.”
A new generation takes the stage
While Louis dominated the field in javelin, Karmen has embraced the all-around demands of the heptathlon—a gruelling seven-event competition that tests speed, strength, skill, and stamina.
Even more impressive? Karmen only began training for the heptathlon in September of last year. For Karmen, the World University Games were about more than medals. They were about community, challenge, and connection.
Karmen Fouché performing in Bochum
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the crowd,” she says. “There’s just an incredible bond between the heptathlon girls. It was a core memory for me—I can’t wait to start training again.”
Despite the event being her international debut, Karmen handled the pressure with poise, viewing the Games not as a test, but as an opportunity to learn.
“I didn’t put a lot of pressure on myself. I took it as experience mostly,” she says, with a calm confidence that hints at her big ambitions. “My Dad told me this year that he had previously won a medal at the FISU Games so it was a big motivation for me. Hopefully I can medal at the next FISU World University Games in two years’ time. I’ve also got my eyes on the 2028 Olympic Games—that’s the biggest dream.”
A father’s reflections
For Louis Fouché, watching his daughter step onto the same world stage he once dominated is a full-circle moment.
“To win gold in 1993 was a dream,” he recalls. “I was a country boy from Tzaneen, and to stand on that podium… it’s a feeling you can’t describe. The team was celebrating with me—I don’t think I took the medal off my neck until the next morning.”
Now, he passes on not just technical skills, but life lessons from a career at the top.
“Sport was always part of my life. There are ups and downs. But the experiences you gain—the people you meet—they last a lifetime. You use those lessons in life after sport.”
The next chapter
With her final year of Pharmacy underway and plans to continue studying towards her Masters degree on the horizon, Karmen’s plate is full. But she balances the academic with the athletic like a seasoned pro and with her family beside her, the foundation is strong.
“Sport and studies—it’s been a hectic four years,” she admits. “But I’m almost done, and I can’t wait to train for the next Games.”
From a gold medal in 1993 to a heptathlon debut in 2025 over thirty years later, the Fouché family proves that excellence doesn’t just run in the blood—it’s built on discipline, passion, and unwavering support.
As Karmen continues her journey, one thing is clear: this story isn’t finished. In fact, it’s just getting started.
Written by Kimara Singh Ruiters, pictures courtesy of the Fouché Family and Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games
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