The coach

Simon

Knowledgeable · Encouraging · Detail-oriented – his clients' three words, not his.

Simon set over the barbell, ready to lift

"Move well. Lift strong." It's not a slogan – it's the whole method.

Simon has always loved strength training, but he really fell in love with weightlifting through CrossFit. There was something about the precision, the challenge and the constant pursuit of improvement that drew him in. The more he learned, the more he realised weightlifting wasn't just about lifting a barbell – it was teaching him discipline, patience and the value of showing up consistently.

Over time, that passion naturally grew into coaching. What he enjoys most isn't his own progress – it's helping other people discover what they're capable of. Whether it's someone walking into a gym for the very first time, overcoming an injury, learning a new movement or achieving a personal best they never thought possible, seeing that growth is what motivates him every day.

Every person is different, so Simon doesn't believe in one-size-fits-all coaching. He takes the time to understand each client's goals, experience and challenges to build a plan that's sustainable, enjoyable and designed around them. Whether you're looking to get stronger, improve your health, learn Olympic weightlifting or simply feel more confident in the gym, his goal is to help you enjoy the process, trust your body and become the strongest version of yourself.

Coaching since2014 – over a decade
Competitor2× National Weightlifting Champion
QualifiedAdvanced Certificate in Exercise Science (3-year qualification) · Olympic Weightlifting Coach Certification, Trifocus Fitness Academy
CoachesComplete beginners, recreational lifters, competitive athletes – and everyone rebuilding after injury in between

Where it happens

Performance Purist, Sandton

Simon trains his clients at Performance Purist – a boutique strength and conditioning gym in Riverclub, Sandton, built for weightlifting and serious training. Platforms, bars and space to move, without the commercial-gym chaos.

If group training is your fit, Simon's weightlifting classes run inside the Purist schedule, alongside strength, conditioning, kettlebell and running sessions coached by the wider Purist team.

Address17 Poplar Avenue, Riverclub, Sandton, Johannesburg
Gympurist-gym.com
ClassesWeightlifting classes coached by Simon – weekday mornings & evenings, Saturdays
OnlineCoaching available anywhere

Simon says:
book your intro.

Thirty minutes, free. You'll know exactly where you stand and the right way forward – even if that way isn't with Simon.

Coach Simon Says - Strength, Focus, Discipline
© 2026 Coach Simon Says · coachsimonsays.com · Sandton, Johannesburg
Training at Performance Purist · Online worldwide
@coach_simon.says