Johannesburg - Battling chronic asthma as a child isn’t easy.
Particularly when you have a love for sport and your medical condition holds you back from taking part in all the activities you love.
This is the challenge that Jean-Marc Johannes faced as a child.
“Growing up asthmatic, and still to this day, is a very big challenge in my life,” Johannes told the Saturday Star.
“Aside from constant monitoring and a lot of time away from home spent staying at hospital, there were also the mental difficulties behind it. I believed for a long time I couldn't do sport because of my condition, to a point where I avoided it completely.”
When Johannes did gain the courage to eventually try out certain sports, he admits he battled.
Johannes went in search of a sport that he was able to partake in without it affecting his health and soon stumbled upon skateboarding.
“I initially saw my friends doing it at school and I thought this was a sport I could possibly do.”
However, in his community of Athlone, in Cape Town, there were no designated skating areas for him to practice his new sport.
This didn’t hold him back from chasing his newfound passion though.
“Most of my tricks that I know today I learnt from skating benches of the local taxi ranks or train stations. I used anything I could around me or what I had access to in order to progress.”
While other kids his age were playing popular sports such as rugby, football and cricket, Johannes quietly went about his business of perfecting manoeuvres like Nollie heelflips, Fakie heelflips, Boardslides, Ollies, Backside Bigspins, and many others.
The Windsor High School (Lansdowne, Cape Town) alumnus then took part in his very first skateboarding competition at the age of 11 and walked away the winner.
In 2017, he turned professional, and last year, he went professional on the International stage.
Along the way, he has won a multitude of awards and competitions, including an accolade from Asia in the form of a Global International Podium in the Virtual Pro Skate Competition hosted by the Ministry of Sports Affairs of Indonesia.
He also holds various world records including, the most Nollie Heel flips in one minute (broken twice), most Fakie heelflips in one minute, most Nollie's in one minute, and is also the first SA International to win Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for competitive skateboarding.
And last week, the Guinness Book of World Records officially confirmed that Johannes is now the new record holder for the highest number of Backside Big Spins.
He managed 18 Backside Big Spins, beating the previous record of 12 held by American Rob Dyrdek since 2007.
Johannes smashed his latest record at Cape Town Stadium on April 6.
He also recently qualified for this year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.
“It is a dream come true, not only to have broken the record but to be part of history in Cape Town.
He says previous record holder Rob Dyrdek inspired him to go after the US skateboarders record.
“I am motivated and inspired by Rob Dyrdek both on and off the board. I watched him make history growing up and it gave me confidence in myself to try and do the same.”
Breaking a record of this such nature is no easy feat.
“On the board, I just practised big spins a lot, every session I had, I made sure that I did the trick at least three times on different obstacles. I needed to make sure I could keep up with the quick movements so I could achieve it in the designated time frame, my trainer Mark Whelan.
“A Backside Big spin is when the skateboard is rotated 360 degrees in the air, as you’re turning yourself 180 degrees, to face the opposite side from where you started – basically, it looks like you and your board are spinning around.
“A backside bigspin, is a combination of tricks which are called Pop shuvit and a backside 180 Ollie. It is a 180 degree turn whilst doing a pop shuvit. I had a goal, that if I could do a bigspin every two seconds then I would be able to achieve what I have set out.”
He says he followed a strict diet and training regime, as he always does, to prepare him for his record attempt.
“For this specific record attempt, I never adjusted my physical training or diet, I just made sure that I would put more focus on endurance and the technicality of the trick.”
Johannes says he hopes that his records and his love for skating will inspire South Africa’s younger generation to take up the sport.
“The best thing about being a pro skater is being able to bring motivation to others, inspiring those around me and being able to teach others all that I know and show them that anything is possible.
“Skateboarding has not only changed my life, it saved my life. It gave me purpose, hope and the determination to achieve my goals despite my medical condition, and I want the youth to know that anything is possible.”
Since becoming pro, skating in the community of Athlone has also grown substantially.
“Skateboarding has definitely grown since I started in my community. It's become a household sport and is also a means of transport for some.”
He also has a message for young South Africans who aspire to be pro skaters:
“If you have a passion, a dream or goal. Believe in your ability, never let anything or anyone tell you that you can't achieve what you have set out.
“Let your ambition guide you to make history. Most importantly, once you have achieved this in a big or small way, show others how to do the same.”