TRACK & FIELD
PaRIS
Bound !
Every athlete dreams of going to the Olympics , because it is the pinnacle of the sport , and in 2024 , that dream has become a reality for SA ’ s 400m specialist Miranda Coetzee , but she tells us she had some nervous moments before being sure she could start packing her bags . – BY MANFRED SEIDLER
Having gained valuable experience of competing on the world stage at two editions of the World Championships as well as the Commonwealth Games , SA sprinter Miranda Coetzee is ready to step it up in 2024 , with a first trip to the Olympic Games in Paris . Of course , she first needed to post a qualifying time , and at the African Championships in Douala , Cameroon this past June , she appeared to have done that when she clocked 50.91 in the semi-final round , on the way to winning the final and claiming a second continental title in the 400m .
AFRICAN CHAMPS , OLYMPIC QUALIFIER
Unfortunately , the entire meet in Douala was mired in controversy due to poor organisation , and one of the biggest problems was the starting gun . Normally , the gun is linked to the electronic timing system , and starts the clock running when the shot is fired , to give as accurate a time as possible , but this system was not working properly . Therefore , the ecstasy Miranda felt at running a qualifying time was soon countered by trepidation that it would not be recognised by World Athletics …
Fortunately , the result was subsequently ratified by World Athletics , and Miranda will be winging her way to her first Olympics in Paris this July . Understandably excited but also a little nervous , she sat down for a quick Q & A with us , and this is what she had to say .
MA : How did you feel when you ran that Olympic Qualifier ? MC : I was so happy , but I didn ’ t believe it at first , because of the technical issues they had in Cameroon . But after I saw that my time was cleared , I was so excited !
MA : Did you doubt you would not go to Paris ? MC : I knew it was going to happen , I had that feeling in me , I just had to believe in myself more . But I knew it was going to happen .
MA : African Champs this year was difficult from an organizational point of view . What were some of the challenges , and how did you deal with them ?
MC : It was very difficult ! It was too hot , so I drank a lot of Rehydrate , but the food was okay – I just had to eat what I know . There ’ s just so many people in Cameroon , so the traffic was crazy , but other than that , the people there are so amazing . The staff were also really nice , so I just had to stay calm and focus on what I went there to do .
MA : The Olympics are the biggest stage , and come with huge pressures . What are you hoping for at the Olympics ?
MC : I ’ ll be happy if I can run a PB and make it to at least the semi-finals , that ’ s the target . The final will be a bonus , but for now , if I can just run a fast time and go to the semis , I will be happy .
MA : You were crowned 400m African Champion in 2022 and 2024 . How do you think those two titles will have helped you in preparing for an Olympics .
MC : I ’ m just so happy I got a few 400s in my legs in Cameroon , because I haven ’ t really run this year . So , for me , Africans was an eye-opener . I am more confident , I feel strong , and I believe I have faster times in me .
South Africa ’ s Miranda Coetzee wins the women ’ s 400m gold medal at the 2024 African Championships in Douala , Cameroon , clocking 51.16 seconds . ( Video courtesy of AthleticsAfrica )
MA : How did you find the World Championships in Eugene in 2022 , and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham that same year ? Where they also a big help in preparing you in your journey to Paris ?
MC : I wasn ’ t mentally prepared in 2022 , so I didn ’ t really have a vision of what I wanted to achieve , but looking back now , I feel like they ’ ve helped me realise who I am , and what I am capable of doing . I just needed to fix myself mentally .
MA : Eugene is a small town , but it is track-crazy , with a real athletics heritage . Were you able to do some exploring while you were there ?
MC : Unfortunately , I didn ’ t really do much in Eugene , because I was still new and a little bit shy . But I ’ m so much more open to exploring right now , so I ’ m looking forward to Paris .
MA : How difficult was it to adapt to the long flight to Eugene , which is all the way on the other side of the USA ?
MC : The flight really affected us . It took so much time to adapt to it , and the different time zones as well , and it was too much . Thankfully , Paris will be a lot easier to adapt to .
Image : Courtesy Athletics South Africa , PUMA South Africa
58 ISSUE 170 | www . modernathlete . co . za