Bolt's 'bitter-sweet' retirement will open doors for Wayde

Wayde van Niekerk File Photo: Julio Cortez/AP

Wayde van Niekerk File Photo: Julio Cortez/AP

Published Dec 4, 2016

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It could be argued that the dice was loaded as Wayde van Niekerk went up against Usain Bolt for the male IAAF Athlete of the Year Award on Friday, in a season the Jamaican completed an unprecedented Olympic “triple-triple”.

If breaking one of the most coveted world records to claim the Olympic title isn’t good enough to secure the top athletics accolade, then what is?

Bolt had the answer as the greatest sprinter of all time secured a special place in history, winning his third Olympic title in each of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m in Rio de Janeiro four months ago.

Van Niekerk understood the gravity of Bolt winning the award and will no doubt be saying to himself “next time”, as his career has only just launched while the charismatic Jamaican’s draws to a close.

“It has definitely been a blessed season and an amazing year of growth and a confidence-booster,” Van Niekerk said.

“At the same time, sitting at the awards looking at the meaning of the evening it is a bit bitter-sweet knowing a legend like Usain Bolt is on the verge of retiring.”

The South African praised Bolt for the inspirational role he has played for aspiring athletes such as himself.

“He is someone we all find so much motivation and inspiration from and he is close to retiring so it is a bit sad,” Van Niekerk said.

“But at the same time it also opens up so many doors for me to believe and go out there and be the best Wayde I can.”

As if he hadn’t done so already, Bolt cemented his place in the athletics annals as one of the greatest athletes to grace the track by winning his sixth World Athlete of the Year Award.

While Bolt was in the twilight of his career, Van Niekerk’s has already taken off with the promise of even greater achievements as he dabbles with the idea of doing more short sprints.

“I’m really looking forward to working on my 100 and 200 metres, I always say that my first love in the sport was the short sprints,” he said.

“That’s why I do track and field. The 400 metres has brought me this far, so I don’t see a reason to go out there and neglect it.

“I feel that I should still put in a lot of effort in the 400 but at the same time I’ve got such a massive hunger inside me to improve my 100 and 200 as well.”

Meanwhile, Bolt admitted that setting the 200m world record of 19.19 seconds at the 2009 IAAF World Championships was a distant memory, and he would instead focus on the 100m and relay.

Therein lies and opportunity for Van Niekerk - who boasts a personal best of 19.94 in the 200m - as other athletes have been slow to put up their hands.

Van Niekerk was still conflicted about how he would go about getting the best out of his sprinting talents, but for now he will be guided by what he does in training and during the early parts of the South African season.

“Back in SA in the first few races, it will all depend on my fitness because you won’t be able to get the same quality races if you don’t do well,” he said.

“So I need to put out some quality times before I get to qualify, and then decide what I am going to do.

“I’m not too hasty, I am going to put in the hard work and let the times speak. It is going to be be very tough, so I am still not sure which events to pinpoint. But I am going to take it race by race and decide what I will do.”

Weekend Argus

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