Forty-three seconds that will last a lifetime – Wayde van Niekerk etched his name in history by winning gold in the 400m at the IAAF World Championships yesterday.
From the streets of Kraaifontein to the winner’s podium in Beijing, it seemed Van Niekerk was destined for greatness. After all, sprinting is in his blood.
His mother, Dez van Niekerk, competed against the former South African champion, Geraldine Pillay, in the early 2000s.
His father, Wayne, was also a track and field athlete, especially good over 100m and at high jump.
Pace seems to run in the family – his cousin, Cheslin Kolbe, plays at fullback for the Stormers and Western Province.
Kolbe was unable to watch the race, and when the Cape Argus contacted him, it was the first he had heard of Van Niekerk’s win.
“You’re joking!” he exclaimed. “Wow! That’s amazing!
“He’s gone through a lot, especially with injuries. I’m so glad everything is going his way and falling into place for him.”
Kolbe said Van Niekerk had tried his hand at rugby while at high school, but fell in love with athletics instead.
“His parents are both runners, yes. His dad was very fast over 100m.”
Kolbe congratulated his cousin on the win, saying it was “well-deserved”.
Yesterday, Van Niekerk ran a personal best of 43.48 seconds to take gold, beating favourites Kirani James and 2008 Olympic champion, LaShawn Merritt.
He is the fourth-fastest man over 400m in history.
His win made waves on social media. Within minutes, “Wayde”, “#IAAFWorldChampionships” and “Van Niekerk” were trending in South Africa, and it later went viral.
Former South African 100m and 200m specialist, and gold medallist in the 4x100m relay at the 2001 World Championships, Mathew Quinn, said the win was no easy feat.
“His race was absolutely insane – he’s had a great season, an injury-free season, he’s the 200m and 400m SA record-holder.
“And this has been a breakthrough year for him. He’s had a good couple of seasons, but this is a breakthrough year for him.”
Quinn said Van Niekerk had been creating a buzz in track circles this year with stirring performances – at one time holding the African record – and he had now stamped his authority on world athletics.
“He’s the world’s best. Before the race, there would have been questions: can he beat the best? Can he beat Kirani James, can he beat LaShawn Merritt, and he’s answered those questions in the best way possible.
“He’s answered those questions on the world stage. He’s now the world champion.”
Heide Seyerling-Quinn – a gold medallist at the 2006 African Championships in the 4x400m relay, and a two-time Olympian in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 – hoped the win ushered in a newgolden era for South African track athletes.
“It’s great that a sprinter won for a change. Usually it’s our middle-distance runners who are successful, but to see our guys coming through the ranks in the 100, 200 and 400 is great.
“Whatever our coaches are doing – I know Anaso (Jobodwana) trains abroad – but whatever our coaches are doing with the guys here, they’re doing a wonderful job.”
Asked about Van Niekerk, she told the Cape Argus that she had been keeping a keen eye on the23-year-old.
“I’ve watched all his races. He did so well last year and to see how he has improved is fantastic.
“Both of them keep pushing themselves. Anaso in the 200 and Wayde in the 400, they’ve grown in leaps and bounds.
“Watching Wayde, you can tell he’s in the right mindset. Before every race, he’s focused. He wants the gold, you can see it.
“He pushes himself to get there. It makes it exciting to watch because you know he’s giving his all.”
Van Niekerk had to be stretchered off the track after collapsing minutes after the race.
ANA reported that South African team leader Peter Lourens said: “Van Niekerk is OK. It’s exhaustion. They are taking him to hospital for observation.”
For Van Niekerk, it’s not all physical effort. He is studying towards a BA in Marketing at the University of the Free State.
The university’s rector, Professor Jonathan Jansen, had arranged refreshments in the Callie Human Hall before the race for students to watch the final and “celebrate hisvictory”.
Jansen joked on Facebook that “for the busy ones, it will only take 43.01 seconds”.
He sent his message of congratulations: “Dear Wayde, I wish you could see the hundreds of students in the Hall celebrating this enormous victory over the world’s best 400m athletes!
“You have no idea how proud the 30 000 students of theUniversity of the Free State are this evening.
“Now come home, to your campus, so that the real party can begin! Well done, my student.”
Heide Seyerling-Quinn – a gold medallist at the 2006 African Championships in the 4x400m relay, and a two-time Olympian in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004 – hoped the win ushered in a new|golden era for South African track athletes.
“It’s great that a sprinter won for a change. Usually it’s our middle-distance runners who are successful, but to see our guys coming through the ranks in the 100, 200 and 400 is great.
“Whatever our coaches are doing – I know Anaso (Jobodwana) trains abroad – but whatever our coaches are doing with the guys here, they’re doing a wonderful job.”
Asked about Van Niekerk, she told the Cape Argus that she had been keeping a keen eye on the23-year-old.
“I’ve watched all his races. He did so well last year and to see how he has improved is fantastic.
“Both of them keep pushing themselves. Anaso in the 200 and Wayde in the 400, they’ve grown in leaps and bounds.
“Watching Wayde, you can tell he’s in the right mindset. Before every race, he’s focused. He wants the gold, you can see it.
“He pushes himself to get there. It makes it exciting to watch because you know he’s giving his all.”
Van Niekerk had to be stretchered off the track after collapsing minutes after the race.
ANA reported that South African team leader Peter Lourens said: “Van Niekerk is OK. It’s exhaustion. They are taking him to hospital for observation.”
For Van Niekerk, it’s not all physical effort. He is studying towards a BA in Marketing at the University of the Free State.
The university’s rector, Professor Jonathan Jansen, had arranged refreshments in the Callie Human Hall before the race for students to watch the final and “celebrate his|victory”.
Jansen joked on Facebook that “for the busy ones, it will only take 43.01 seconds”.
He sent his message of congratulations: “Dear Wayde, I wish you could see the hundreds of students in the Hall celebrating this enormous victory over the world’s best 400m athletes!
“You have no idea how proud the 30 000 students of the|University of the Free State are this evening.
“Now come home, to your campus, so that the real party can begin! Well done, my student.” - Cape Argus