Johannesburg – South African 400m hurdles record holder LJ van Zyl hopes to regain his best form this season after a disappointing campaign last year.
Van Zyl was eliminated in the first round of the 2012 London Olympic Games, and he said on Tuesday he was determined to make up for it with a medal at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, in August.
In 2011, he had set a new national best of 47.66 seconds and secured a bronze medal at the global championships in Daegu, South Korea.
“My goals for the season are to be on the podium at the world champs as I did in 2011, and to be the SA champion again,” Van Zyl said.
The 27-year-old confirmed he was in full training and started with specific hurdles preparation this week.
He believed he would be able to motivate himself in an effort to find his best form.
“I don't believe in psychologists, I've tried them before but I was off afterwards, so I try to motivate myself,” he said.
“When I think of all those people who really wanted to be professional athletes but did not get there, or did not have the opportunity, it really motivates me to appreciate what I have and to go further.”
Van Zyl aimed to make up for his poor performance at the London Games by stepping on the podium at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
“My long term goal is to win a medal at the 2016 Olympics,” he said.
“Everything I do in the short term is geared towards this.” – Sapa