Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 64, November 2014 | Page 22

Ma Living Legend

for the old
Competing
ansvaal
Northern Tr
ince.
prov

Unbroken

BLITZ

Evette today, still
involved in the
sport as coach
and mentor.

She dominated South African sprinting throughout
the 80s, running world class times, winning
national title after national title, and her SA
records for 100m and 200m remain standing after
more than two decades, making Evette De Klerk
a true living legend of SA athletics
– BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

I

n a grade one athletics day meet, Evette was on her way to
sprinting glory when she tripped and fell, but she dusted herself off
and still managed to cross the line fourth. A year later she was back
and this time finished top of the podium, a step she would frequent
for the next 25 years… “I specialised in the 100m and 200m sprints
and when I was 10, I ran times on par with the world’s best juniors,”
she says. “At 16, I scored my first national record and started running
against the seniors, and at 17, I was a Springbok, training with the
great Bessie Windell. She was a mother and mentor – and I needed
her on my travels, because I didn’t know much back then!”

Evette also received great support from her school headmaster: “He said I should
take the first four months of the year to concentrate on my running and even
arranged exams to be shifted! In