Barely a week after being presented with a flashy, R1.8 million German sports-car, Olympic hero Wayde van Niekerk received a R1m performance incentive from his appliance maker sponsor, Defy, yesterday in Durban.
With the world 400m record in tow, the poster boy of South Africa’s Rio 2016 campaign has already set his sights on defending his World Athletics Championships title next year in London.
Another ambition he boldly shared was making both the South African 100m and 200m records, currently held by Akani Simbine and Anaso Jobodwana, his own.
“I’m definitely going to improve my 100m and 200m races. But, I’ve got two great competitors in Akani Simbine and Anaso Jobodwana that I have to chase, people that really inspire and motivate me.
“This is a great generation of guys coming through, so I think it’s going to be good for South African athletics competition. But, it’s going to take a lot of hard work because the guys who are currently dominating over there are big dogs, so I have to put in a lot of hard work,” said Van Niekerk.
After his heroics at Rio’s Olympic AStadium, where he showed an impressive field, including Grenada’s 400m sensation Kirani James, a clean pair of spikes, Van Niekerk spoke to the Daily News yesterday and reminisced about the Games, before outlining his ambitions for future events, including the defence of his title at the next World Championships.
“That has to happen (winning gold at London 2017), it’s part of the process. But, I can’t tell you where and when I will beat my own record.
“I’m preparing myself for the 100m, 200m and 400m, but I think if you keep following my career and seeing the times (I run), you will see where Wayde is going.”
However, Van Niekerk said he would not run all three races at a major event.
“During the year I’m going to split it up quite nicely so that I can have my fair share of all three events,” he said.
With the legendary Usain Bolt ending his Olympic career in a blaze of glory last month, the eyes of the athletics world are now expectantly fixed on Van Niekerk to emerge as the new figurehead of the Games, after his own exploits under the watchful eye of the Christ the Redeemer statue.
This does not seem to faze the Cape Town-born sprinter.
“It’s a real honour having to step into the feet of a legend, looking at the legacy he (Bolt) has left.
“I’m excited and very motivated. I want to try to achieve what Bolt has achieved in my 100m and 200m as well, so I want to put in the hard work to emulate his achievements.”
The image of the Jamaican great embracing the 24-year-old South African moments after his world record-breaking dash was a poignant moment.
He described that experience as a positive highlight in his life.
“When we trained together (before the Olympics), Bolt backed me quite a lot and said he really believed I could break the world record.
“Once we got to the Olympics and it actually happened, he came to me and told me he knew I could do it,” Van Niekerk said.
Daily News