Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 63, October 2014 | Page 12

Ma in the lead

Hungry
for More
It’s been quite the season for
400m hurdler Cornel Fredericks,
who clinched gold at the
Commonwealth Games, African
Champs and Continental Cup,
and finished the prestigious IAAF
Diamond League ranked third
overall in his event. Now this
humble athlete from the Overberg
says it’s all about his desire to beat
the best in the business.
– BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER
you on to perform for them, in their
memory?

MA: In 13 races this season, you’ve only

MA: This success must give you a lot of

once missed the podium. What stands out
for you from your great year?

confidence about your chances at Rio 2016?
Or are you more focused on immediate
goals and races for now?

The Commonwealth Games was my big thing.
Everything was new, but with the help of my
coach Hennie Kotze and team, it made it easier
to focus on my conditioning for track. The calibre
of the field was strong, so I wanted to show
everyone that I could perform at that level. On
the morning of the final, I went into the warm-up
area feeling one hundred percent, and I told
Hennie that I wasn’t going to settle for anything
less than gold, but when I went over the line,
I didn’t know how to celebrate in the first five
seconds! Another big moment was standing on
that podium singing the national anthem, because
that evening there were 70,000 people watching
inside the stadium!

MA: Then you topped that off with more
wins at the African Champs and Continental
Cup. Did you feel any added pressure?
Definitely, but I was relaxed because I knew what
I achieved in Glasgow and took that experience
with me. The final was a close one, but I just
came through with the win at the African Champs.
Then in September, I represented Africa in my
last race for the season at the Continental Cup. I
became more focused as I went on in my season.

Next year’s World Champs in Beijing is the
one to look to now. I’ve been to two World
Championships – in 2011 I came fifth in the
final, and last year I just missed it, coming ninth
overall. My performances in 2014 showed that
I can compete against the best and I have that
desire to always finish on the podium. So for
me to make a name for myself, I need to step
it up and get a medal there. That’s what people
remember.

MA: To what do you attribute your most
recent success?
Every time I go home, I always take a few words
from my parents. They told me to be fearless this
season, and that’s how I went out in all my races.
It’s a mental thing, too. After achieving podiums
in a few races, that hunger grew. Going forward,
it will be tough, because people expect more,
but I’m up for any challenge. There is always
pressure, but I have represented South Africa
since 2005 at under-15 level, so that experience
has helped me.

MA: Two of your former coaches have
passed away in recent years. Has it spurred

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ISSUE 63 OCTOBER 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za

MA: Is there somebody you really look
up to in the sport?
My hero is Félix Sánchez of the Dominican
Republic, who won two World Champs and
Olympic golds. Now I’m competin