From the Pool to the Track: SuperSport Schools turns up the heat on Channel 216

From the Pool to the Track: SuperSport Schools turns up the heat on Channel 216

SuperSport Schools is turning up the excitement as Elevate Water Polo on 216 and Athletics on 216 return for another action-packed season, shining a spotlight on South Africa’s rising sporting talent. From the pool to the track, these much-loved magazine shows celebrate the dedication, ambition and achievements of young athletes, bringing their stories, personalities and sporting journeys closer to audiences across the country.

09 September 2026 – The summer sporting season has arrived, and SuperSport Schools is ready to turn up the heat on Channel 216. As schools across South Africa gear up for another action-packed season, the spotlight shifts to a new generation of athletes ready to compete, inspire and make their mark.

Returning to Channel 216 are Elevate Water Polo on 216 and Athletics on 216, bringing audiences closer to the intensity, excitement and personalities that make school sport so special. From hard-fought battles in the water to explosive performances on the track, viewers can look forward to big moments, emerging stars, fierce competition and compelling stories that go far beyond the scoreboard.

Taking audiences behind the action, the shows will meet the athletes chasing their goals, the coaches developing future champions, and the schools and communities creating the platforms for young sporting talent to thrive. This summer, SuperSport Schools is not simply bringing the action to screens – it is bringing viewers closer to the passion, ambition and personalities shaping the next generation of South African sport.

Elevate Water Polo on 216

Making a splash this summer, Elevate Water Polo on 216 returns to celebrate the continued growth and development of school water polo across South Africa.

The magazine show takes viewers beyond the final score, exploring the stories, personalities and performances driving the sport forward. Audiences can expect highlights from major school tournaments, profiles of standout players, emerging talent, expert analysis and a closer look at the coaches and schools creating opportunities for the next generation of water polo stars.

Adding depth and expert insight to the programme are respected voices from the water polo community, including Duncan Woods, Delaine Mentoor and Lwazi Madi.

Woods brings an impressive wealth of experience to the show, having represented the SA Senior Men’s Team from 1996 to 2010, captaining the side for 11 years and competing at four FINA World Championships and two Commonwealth Water Polo Championships.

His contribution to the sport extends well beyond his playing career, with experience in international coaching, athlete development and mental performance. Woods was also instrumental in creating the Water Polo Coach Development Course Library, the official coach accreditation programme for Schools Water Polo South Africa.

Together with Mentoor and Madi, Woods will provide valuable insight into the growth of water polo, the development of young athletes and the exciting future of the sport at school level.

Elevate Water Polo on 216 airs every Wednesday at 19:00 on Channel 216.

Athletics on 216

Meanwhile, the track and field season takes centre stage with the return of Athletics on 216, the youth athletics magazine show bringing together the performances, personalities and stories making an impact throughout the 2026 season.

Hosted by Themba Madima, the show takes audiences inside the world of school athletics with in-depth analysis, exclusive interviews and expert perspectives from leading athletes, coaches and industry voices.

From emerging sprinting stars and distance runners to field-event specialists and future champions, Athletics on 216 celebrates the determination and ambition driving young athletes to push their limits, chase their goals and make their mark on the sport.

Athletics on 216 premieres Wednesday, 23 September at 20:00 on Channel 216.

Head of SuperSport Schools, Thando Bakumeni, said the return of the Summer Magazine Shows reinforces the platform’s commitment to creating meaningful visibility for young athletes and the school sport community.

“Schools sport is about more than the final result. It is about the journey, the dedication of young athletes, the coaches who guide them, and the schools and communities that support them. Our Summer Magazine Shows allow us to tell those stories and celebrate the incredible talent emerging across South Africa,” said Bakumeni.

With the summer season set to deliver another action-packed calendar of school sport, SuperSport Schools is bringing audiences closer to the athletes, personalities, rivalries and unforgettable moments that make youth sport so special.

Whether it is a perfectly timed stroke, a sprint to the finish line, a decisive goal or a breakthrough performance, Elevate Water Polo on 216 and Athletics on 216 will showcase the passion, talent and ambition powering South Africa’s next generation of sporting stars.

This summer, don’t just watch the action – get closer to the stories behind it. Tune in to SuperSport Schools on Channel 216 and join us as we celebrate the future of South African sport.