MEET THE TEAM
Mike da Silva (Boss)
Mike da Silva is the owner and founder of The Fort. He specializes in strength and conditioning and rehabilitation. He holds a BSc in Physiology and Human Movement Science as well as a BSc Honours in Biokinetics.
After a knee injury took professional rugby off the table, Mike decided to shift his focus to coaching and rehabilitation. Mike began his journey in the fitness industry in 2006 consulting for the Pumas Currie Cup Team, Bidvest Wits, Platinum Stars and for Bafana Bafana in preparation for the Confederations Cup in 2009 and World Cup in 2010. From 2012 - 2016 he held the position of strength and conditioning coach for Moroka Swallows.
In 2012 the first version of “The Fort” was started and Mike has evolved it into the cutting edge fitness space it is today.
Gareth Morris (MilkTart)
Gareth Morris or "MilkTart" holds a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Human Kinetics and Ergonomics.
He specialises in strength and conditioning and injury rehabilitation.
His favourite part about being a personal trainer is when clients start to notice changes, whether it's in the mirror, in the gym, or in their day-to-day life.
“I guess you could say that I learnt all about the body and how it works at varsity, but Mike da Silva taught me everything I know about coaching & training people. He moulded me into the trainer I am now.
Once I finished shadowing and Mike asked me to cover a couple of sessions I kind of fell in love with The Fort and never looked back.”
Chad (Superman) Hanekom
Chad Hanekom is a professional athlete competing in Mixed Martial Arts at an international level.
But he’s not just a successful fighter, Chad holds a BSc (Hons.) in Sports Science. He has been working in the fitness industry since 2010 and has had a passion for sport from a very young age.
He is fascinated by which aspects of training could facilitate an improvement of athletic performance and help an individual to reach their full athletic potential.
He specialises in high performance training, healthy lifestyle facilitation, nutrition, injury rehabilitation and mixed martial arts focussing on striking, boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling and pad holding.
Lemile holds a BA (Honours) in Sports Science from the University of Johannesburg and an undergraduate degree in Sports Coaching Science from the University of Pretoria. She also completed a Crossfit course as part of her Honours degree curriculum.
Lemile is passionate about sports and has always been curious to learn more about coaching. The aspiration to improve herself as an athlete is what lead her to explore the field of health and fitness.
She enjoys offering support and encouragement to clients on their fitness journey and specialises in high intensity training as well as strength and conditioning.
Lemile Groenewald (Baby Driver)
Andrew Johnston (PeaCock)
Andrew has been in coaching since 2011 and has been involved specifically in the fitness industry since 2015. He holds a Bsc (Sport Science) majoring in human movement and human physiology and has also studied a Trifocus Olympic lifting course.
Andrew specialises in strength and conditioning, powerlifting, olympic lifts and mobility.
Andrew loves helping people realise their strength potential through training and one of the highlights of his career was building and running a non-profit gym to help people reach their fitness goals.
“The human body is so incredible and I fully believe that everyone should experience the depth of what their body can do. Always remember the two B’s of life; Be. Better.”
Lindie Lombard (Coach Lourens)
Lindie Lombard stepped into the world of fitness in 2017 with a passion for working with people in the realm of sports and fitness. For her, the magic lies in witnessing the transformative power of exercise and being in an uplifting environment. Lindie finds joy in observing the profound impact that physical activity has on the body, mind, and psyche. To her, it’s a beautiful journey of guiding individuals towards confidence, self-acceptance, and a profound connection with their bodies.
Expertise:
Specializing in Sport-Specific Training, Ballistics, and Plyometrics, Lourens brings a wealth of knowledge to her coaching.
Education:
* Undergraduate: BA in Sport Science from the University of Pretoria
* Honours: B.Sport Science from the University of Johannesburg
Achievements:
In her younger years, Lindie proudly represented South Africa in netball.
Beyond the Gym:
Outside of the gym, Lindie enjoys conquering hiking trails, Netties, music, or indulging in a well-deserved nap.