RACE WALKING
Tokyo Ticket booked
Just one second … That ’ s how close it was , but race walker Wayne Snyman has now got that all-important Olympic qualifying time behind his name , and if all goes to plan , he will be on the plane to the Tokyo Games later this year . – BY WILHELM DE SWARDT & SEAN FALCONER
In April 2019 , Wayne was one of the first South African athletes to qualify for the original 2020 Tokyo Olympics , when he finished second in the 20km at the Podebrady Race Walking Permit Meeting in the Czech Republic . He clocked 1:20:17 that day , taking a massive 29 seconds off his previous personal best , set in 2016 , and dipping well below the Olympic qualifying mark of 1:21:00 . However , the COVID-19 pandemic then forced the postponement of the Olympics to 2021 , which meant Wayne would need to qualify again .
Happily , in spite of a year of very little racing , 36-year-old Wayne was able to go race in Dudince , Slovenia late in March and come away with a 1:20:59 performance . That gave him a solid sixth place , but more importantly , it was one second inside the Olympic qualifier – and he posted the time in spite of being ill the week of his race . “ A few days before I raced , I was in bed due to stomach flu . It took its toll , and over the last five kilometres , I was low on energy , but that single second is pure gold to me !” says an elated Wayne .
Tokyo will mean a second Olympics for Wayne , who already represented SA on the highest stage by racing the 20km at the Rio Olympics in Brazil in 2016 , where he placed 58th in a time of 1:29:20 . That was a dream come true , he says . “ I watched the opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games with my grandma , and I was immediately hooked by sport . I told her right there and then , that I wanted to go the Olympic Games , doesn ’ t matter which sport , but I wanted to compete at the highest level .”
“ I tested all sports , failing , succeeding , gaining experience in team and individual sports , hoping that I will find the sport that will take me to the Games . One night when I was 17 , I was dared to race walk , a sport I only saw at track meets . I had not trained for it and knew nothing about the sport , but I won that 3000m walk
The Olympic Dream is still burning bright for Wayne
Doesn ’ t matter how close it was , Wayne has his qualifier
in 14 minutes , which was apparently ‘ quite good .’ I got hooked on the feeling of winning and breaking records , and I knew right away , this was the sport I had been waiting for .”
Successful Career
In his 19-year walking career , Wayne has won the SA Champs 20km title four times ( and finished runner-up or third three times each ), claimed three SA Student Champs 20km titles ( and finished second and third once each ). He also won the SA Race Walking Champs 10km title in 2018 . On the track , he has won three Gauteng North Champs titles over 10,000m and in 2013 also won the SA Open Champs 10,000m title .
Through the years , Wayne has also proudly worn the green and gold of South Africa many times , starting with the 2013 World Universiade Games in Kazan , Russia . Besides the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil , he raced at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast , Australia , finishing 14th , and in 2019 he also participated in the IAAF World Champs in Doha , Qatar , where he took 38th place . In continental competition , Wayne has twice finished third in the African Games , in Brazzavile ( Congo ) in 2015 and in Rabat , Morocco in 2019 . He was also fourth at the African Champs in Durban in 2016 , and fifth at the 2018 African Champs in Asaba , Nigeria .
Better Times Ahead
Besides qualifying for Tokyo , the other thing that excites Wayne right now is how consistent his performances have been over the last three years , during which his worst placing was finishing sixth . Wayne credits his coach , Robert Heffernan , for his newfound confidence and overall consistency . The Irishman won the 50km title at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow , Russia , and he also won the 50km bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics .
“ Robert has changed my approach to racing . In the past , I had a straightforward approach . I trained hard , raced hard and hoped for the best , but it did not quite work out . The 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2019 Doha World Championships turned out to be terrible experiences , and made me realise the importance of being ‘ mentally ’ fit as well .”
He adds that quitting his job as a teacher was one of the most significant decisions he has made in the last few years . “ I realised that you can ’ t be internationally competitive if you need to work a full day and also train . From a financial perspective , there are times I wonder how wise a decision it was to quit , and I owe a lot to my wife for her continuous support . Of course , my recent results help a bit , because when you finish in the top six or better , you do earn some money !”
The basis of this article was supplied by The Department of Sport ( TuksSport ) at the University of Pretoria . Tuks is home to some of the best sporting opportunities in the world , with more than 30 sport clubs . To find out more , go to www . up . ac . za / tukssport .
Images : Cecilia van Bers
30 ISSUE 140 APRIL 2021 / www . modernathlete . co . za