When former Grey High School pupil Wayde van Niekerk won the 400 metres at the World Athletics Championships in August 2015, to become the fourth-fastest ever over the distance, everyone asked, “Wayde who?” But for this ambitious 24-year-old, his ‘overnight’ rise to fame has taken years of hard work and dedication – and a big dose of self-confidence. – By RW Editor, Mike Finch

Name: Wayde van Niekerk
Age: 24
Home: Pellissier, Bloemfontein
Occupation: World-class athlete, marketing student at the University of the Free State

When I stood in the blocks, everywhere I looked I saw national record-holders, Olympic champions and world champions. It was a quality field, and I knew I had to put it all out there.

I was pretty nervy and a bit down, and didn’t get out of the blocks as explosively as I’d wanted. But after the first 100 metres my body switched on, and I started to pull through. I started to increase the speed in the second 100, and maintained it around the bend. In the last 100 metres, I realised I was in the lead, but I knew I had quality athletes chasing me, and I gave it everything. I was just grateful I got the gold.

After I finished I tried to keep standing, and not sit down. I was quite tired. I went over to the other South Africans in the crowd, but then I ended up sitting down… and that was the end of my celebrations. (Van Niekerk was stretchered off and hospitalised with exhaustion. – Ed)

My mother and father were very good athletes, and my stepdad really encouraged me along the way. My biological dad, Wayne, lives in Cape Town, and he contacts me regularly. I always believed that I had the genes and the potential do well in the sport. (Van Niekerk first broke through the ranks as an 18-year-old in 2011, winning the SA senior 200m title, and then won the 400m senior title in 2013. – Ed.)

I went to a lot of different schools. I grew up in Cape Town, then moved to Bloem, then Joburg, and then back to Bloem, where I matriculated at Grey College.

My first loves were always the 100 and the 200m. But I’m a 400m runner now, and it seems to be working. I’ve still got a lot I want to achieve in the 400m, and just want to continue to improve as an athlete every time I race.

What I really like about my coach, Tannie Ans Botha (who has been the athletics coach at the University of the Free State for 25 years, and turned 74 this year) is that she really relates to us youngsters, and is open-minded and willing to adapt to new ideas we may have. She used to coach (former Namibian sprint legend) Frankie Fredericks, and she’s really relatable. She doesn’t just see us as athletes, but almost like her children.

I have been competing with guys like Anaso Jobodwana and Akani Simbini (SA’s second athlete to break the sub-10-second barrier for the 100m) since 2010. With Anaso and me there’s a very supportive structure. We want to push and inspire each other to the next level. There is a strong bond between us, and we believe that this talent has been blessed to us by God.

The night before Anaso was running the 200m, I sat him down and said that there was no doubt that he was going to get a medal. He did the job. (Jobodwana won bronze, behind winner Usain Bolt and US superstar Justin Gatlin, to give South Africa two sprint medals. Before the 2015 World Champs, SA had never won a sprint medal. – Ed)

I want to be as grounded as possible. I want to be the person I was before the gold, and keep it real.

I’ve done a lot of interviews since the world champs. It’s something new for me, and it’s something I need to learn and adapt to. I finished the season feeling healthy, and I use every race as an opportunity to grow.

I have five siblings, and my brother Craig, who’s in matric, says he’s better than me in the 200m and 400m. We shall see! But I look forward to maybe travelling Europe together.

This is my journey. I want to build my story as best as possible. If – one day – I break Michael Johnson’s record, I would be more than grateful. But right now, it’s not what I’m focused on.

Last night, Wayde van Niekerk smashed the Men’s 400m final at the Olympic Games and won gold for South Africa in an unbelievable time of 43:03, read all about his winning race here.

* All images by Johan Pretorius.

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