TY - JOUR T1 - Keep moving: overcoming physical, mental and pandemic challenges to stay active JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine JO - Br J Sports Med SP - 535 LP - 536 DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2022-105679 VL - 56 IS - 10 AU - Dina Christina (Christa) Janse van Rensburg AU - Sharief Hendricks Y1 - 2022/05/01 UR - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/10/535.abstract N2 - There is little argument against the benefits of physical activity for most cohorts: healthy individuals, patients with non-communicable disease and auto-immune conditions, and patients with cancer - all experience improved health outcomes from regular physical activity. However, the physical activity requirements and the challenges to fulfil these vary for different populations. Athletes overcome many challenges to reach their goals. Recently, a major hurdle to fulfilling physical activity requirements was COVID-19. To represent this conquering spirit, we have Michaela Whitebooi on the cover of this edition. Michaela is a multiple African Senior Judo Champion (under 48 kg category) who has overcome injuries and personal factors to reach not only her sporting goals as a 2020 Tokyo Olympian, but also her academic goals through obtaining an Honours degree in Internal Auditing and a Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship.As an association, the South African Sports Medicine Association (@SASMA_ZA) too has faced difficulties during COVID-19, having our biennial meeting cancelled in 2021. We are proud to announce the International Festival of Sports, Exercise and Medicine Conference 2022 (https://ifsemc2022.co.za/). The 19th SASMA Congress will be held in Pretoria, South Africa, from 29 September to 2 October 2022. It is a multidisciplinary conference with the Biokinetics (Exercise Therapists) Association of South Africa (BASA) (@BiokineticsSA), the South African Society of Biomechanics (SASB) (@Biomech_SA), and Physical Activity, Sport and Health for Development in Africa (PASHDA) and reflects the evolution of sports medicine in South Africa. The origins go back to 1983 when SASMA … ER -