Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 61, August 2014 | Page 12

Ma feature

On Track
In June, 21-year-old
Wayde Van Niekerk
crushed the 15-yearold South African
400m record when he
clocked 44.38 seconds
for a second place
finish at the Diamond
League meeting in
New York. The young
sprint prodigy chats
to Modern Athlete
about his improving
times and what he
expects at this year’s
Commonwealth Games.

to Greatness

–

BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

MA: Congrats on your record run! Did you
expect to break it, and what does it mean
to you?
Wayde: It’s been a goal of mine to beat the
record and the run was a blessing. I went out
feeling extremely nervous, but then the race started
and before I knew it, I was in front with the Olympic
and World Champ, LaShawn Merritt from the States. I
held on as long as I possibly could. It’s only then that I
realised I got the national record! Getting it this soon in
my career just gives me more confidence to set higher
goals for myself each year. Throughout my career, I’ve
had amazing support from family and friends. On and
off the track, there are so many people encouraging me
and supporting my dream, and it’s so special that they’re
sharing in this now.
MA: Where did your love of athletics begin, and have
you always been sporty?
Wayde: Yes, we were a sporty family. I was always playing

games in the streets, parks and at school, with my cousins
and friends. As a kid, I tried everything out there – tennis,
rugby, athletics and squash. You name it, I tried it! Eventually,

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ISSUE 61 AUGUST 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za

in high school, I pursued athletics and my teacher
referred me to a coach where I improved and started
growing in the sport. That’s when my dreams and
goals started to develop into something more.

MA: What does a typical training week look
like and is it dependent on competition? Does
your diet also play an important part in that
preparation?
Wayde: It is fairly dependent on competitions. I
train five to six days a week and adjust my training
depending on how my body feels, or if I need rest. I
usually do strengthening in the gym in the mornings
and do a long track session in the afternoon. With
regards to my diet, obviously it’s very important,
but it is a weakness of mine, I must admit! But I’m
improving there, and it’s something I’m set getting
disciplined on.
I’m lucky to have seen the world with running. I’m a
great fan of Europe, but nothing beats South Africa
and some of our venues, in my opinion. The best
track I still stand by is Pelliespark back home in
Bloemfontein, where I often train.

MA: Looking ahead, your plans have been
focused on the Commonwealth Games in
Glasgow at the end of July going into August, but
what comes after that, and what are your goals
for the next few years?
Wayde: Hopefully I will have done well at the
Games, and then I hope to step up and improve my
times in the 200m in the next few years. I have the
World Championships to look forward to next year,
which is key if I want to get to the Olympics in 2016!

Image: Catherine Kotze/SASPA

here’s a new speedster making headlines on the
track, and Wayde van Niekerk’s new national
400m record is a significant improvement
on the old mark of 44:59, set by Arnaud
Malherbe way back in 1999 and then equalled
by Hendrik Mokganyetsi in 2000. Wayde’s
record was made even sweeter with a huge
leap from his previous best of 44.92. Just two
weeks later, he stormed to victory in 20.53
in the men’s 200m at the Sollentuna Grand
Prix meet in Stockholm. It was a little slower
than the impressive 20.21 he ran in Pretoria
in April, just 0.10 seconds off Morne Nagel’s
12-year-old SA record of 20.11, but it once
again showed that this young man is on the
verge of really great things.