Duncan Woods time at Maties was about far more than academics and competition. It was a defining chapter of his life marked by friendship, achievement and a student-athlete experience he still holds in high regard today.
Woods completed his BA degree MBK ((abbreviation for the new name “Human Movement Science”) with Business Management at Stellenbosch University and looks back on his years at Maties as some of the most meaningful of his life.
“Life at Maties was undoubtedly some of the best times of my life. The student and sport lifestyle was brilliant. The facilities were great and the water polo club spirit was an amazing thing to be part of.”
For Duncan, the sense of community surrounding Maties Water Polo was a significant part of the Maties Sport experience. Beyond the competition in the pool, the social aspects of the club contributed to the lasting memories.
“The water polo clubhouse was an incredible place to socialise after water polo games,” he recalls with a big smile.
One of the highlights of his time at Maties was being part of a dominant water polo team that achieved remarkable success. Together, they won three consecutive USSA Water Polo titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002, an accomplishment that remains one of the defining moments of their time together.
His sporting journey reached the global stage when he was selected to represent Team South Africa as the coach of the South African Water Polo squad at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. He played water polo for South Africa for 13 years, from 1997 to 2010.
Today, Duncan is making his mark in both business and sport. He works as a consultant in the business sector, assiting organisations improve performance through the use of high-performance methodologies. At the same time, he remains deeply invested in the sport that shaped so much of his student journey, as the co-founder of Elevate Water Polo, an excellence programme for the sport he loves.
Looking towards the future, Duncan remains focused on growth and and making a meaningful contribution. He aims to continue building a business that makes a real difference in its sector and is also considering pursuing a doctorate.
“I want to build a business that has real impact in its sector and potentially would like to study further towards getting my doctorate degree.”
When asked about what he would say to prospective student-athletes considering Maties Sport, Duncan clearly emphasizes the value of the experience.
“It is an institution that gives an excellent education as well as offering an incredible student-athlete experience that offers you so much opportunity to grow and better yourself.”