Johannesburg - Olympic athletes are finely tuned machines primed for competition, but in this Saturday’s episode of Speed Stars on DStv channel 189 South African sprinters Wade van Niekerk and Akani Simbane will compete in a race of a different kind.
Wade, who took the 400m gold in Rio, and Akani, 100m finalist Akani will take each other on in a hotlap battle behind the wheels of identical Opel Adam Ss at Zwartkops, and if you can predict the winner you can win an advanced driving course with Opel and Michelin.
To enter, SMS the word MOTOR [space] your prediction (either WADE or AKANI) followed by your name, email address and province you live in to 45607. SMS cost R1.50.
The advanced driving course prize will be held at the Gerotek test facility in Gauteng toward the end of November (dates have not yet been finalised), but the contest is open to anyone in the country. Flight costs will be covered for out of town winners, but you’ll need to make your way to either King Shaka airport in Durban or Cape Town International on your own steam.
The Van Niekerk versus Simane episode will air this Saturday night at 7.30pm on DStv channel 189, and SMS entries close at the start of the show. Terms and conditions apply, and prizes are not exchangeable for cash value.
Fastest guys on the (athletic) track
It’s been an unbelievable year for the 22 year old Akani Simbine. Not only did he smash his own South African 100m record with a time of 9.89secs, he got to compete in his first Olympic Games, crowning it with a 5th in the most prestigious sprint race of them all – the Olympic 100m final. Focused, determined yet humble, sprint ahead four years to Japan and Akani will be the man to beat for gold.
We have no doubt that when the IAAF announces their 2016 World Athlete of Year on December 2, Wayde van Niekerk will be the name they call out. The Golden Boy of the Rio Olympics, Wayde not only smashed Michael Johnson’s 17-year old 400m world record from Lane 8 on his way to gold, he is the only man to ever complete the triple: run the 100m in under 10 seconds, the 200m in under 20 seconds and the 400m under 44 seconds. With Usain Bolt coming to the end of his career, the 24-year old from Bloemfontein has taken over the baton as one of the biggest names in track and field.
So yes, they are the fastest guys around the athletics track, but will they blitz the opposition on the Speed Stars racetrack? We are predicting a photo finish in this sprint for top honours.