Stronger Together

February may be all about hearts and roses, but for Ballito couple Gabby and Travis Strydom, romance often shows up in a slightly different form - a shared sweat session, a set of pads, or simply walking into the gym side by side. Married for almost two years and together for eight, 27-year-old Travis Strydom and 26-year-old Gabby Strydom have built a relationship where movement is part of their DNA.

Although both train consistently, their routines are determined by their own passions and strengths. “My week is a mix of strength training, Pilates, boxing, and a long walk daily, with recovery work like sauna sessions, ice baths, and stretching,” says Gabby, who trains five to six days a week, depending on her workload and shoots.

“I split my week between callisthenics, strength training, and touch rugby,” Travis explains. He also trains five to six days a week and has competed in several local touch rugby tournaments.

The pair often end up in the same gym, even if they aren’t doing the same workout. “Trav does his training, I do mine, but showing up together keeps us accountable and makes it much easier to stay consistent,” says Gabby. Boxing is the sport that brings them together most naturally. “Trav started boxing for fun at a young age with his dad and brothers,” says Gabby. “I started boxing training at a gym in Cape Town in 2019 and fell in love with it, learning from personal trainers and doing one-on-one sessions.” Today, it’s one of their favourite shared activities. Whether they’re doing pad work or just “messing around,” as Gabby puts it, boxing has become a fun and playful outlet. “It’s a good way to laugh and destress.”

How Fitness Fuels Their Relationship

Movement has always been central to their lives; Travis with his rugby background and Gabby with her years as a competitive dancer. “We were both pretty active before we started dating. Movement always played a big role in both our lives,” says Gabby. “It was something we both valued in a partner, as it’s a way of keeping your body healthy.” Training together now adds a subtle but meaningful layer to their marriage. “It’s also a reset when life gets busy. You show up differently for your partner when you feel good physically,” says Travis.

And while many couples thrive on a little friendly rivalry, the Strydoms prefer cheering each other on. “We’re not really competitive with one another at all,” says Gabby. “We like to encourage each other in the various activities we do.” The challenges they face are less about their different training styles and more about the dynamics of team sports.

Gabby laughs when talking about Padel: “I’m a dancer, so bat-and-ball sports aren’t my strength, which can make it tricky for Trav or anyone on my team when the level is high.” But they’ve learned how to keep things healthy. “We handle it by keeping things light, communicating, and not taking those moments too seriously,” she says. “Give each other space to be beginners, manage expectations, and choose activities that keep things fun rather than stressful.” For couples wanting to get moving together, their advice is to start with something low-pressure that you both enjoy. “It’s also completely fine to train side by side but do different things,” Gabby says. What matters most is consistency, encouragement, and keeping the experience positive. “Let go of the idea that you need to be equally skilled. Let movement be something that strengthens your relationship, rather than adding stress to it.”