His story and history

OVER a span of six days starting on Friday, August 5, South Africa will be rapt as we and the rest of the world await the performances of Bloemfontein-based – and let’s not forget, Cape Town-born – sprinter Wayde van Niekerk at the athletics world championships in London.

The slightly-built blitz has been astounding in recent weeks in the 400m and the 200m, but the London assembly of the best athletes on the planet will present a tougher than normal challenge for Mzansi’s pride.

Including the preliminary rounds in the stadium at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Van Niekerk is expected to run six races, three each in the 200m and the 400m, between the Friday and the following Thursday.

With a schedule that allows him to compete in both the one-lap race – up to now his speciality – and the half-lapper around the bend, he is lining up to do a double that will simply rocket him to new levels in the sport.

How much of a toll will the load of races take on his legs? Time will tell, and at least he will be done with the expected 400m final on day four of his schedule, with the last two races in the 200m over the next two days.

BUT the portents are good for success in both sprints. Van Niekerk has astounded with his buildup performances, setting a new world record in the 300m and then running a world-leading time for 2017 in the 400m in Lausanne last week. He also possesses the fastest time run in the 200m this year. These times mean a lot in that they say to the opposition that Van Niekerk is in prime form, and will take a power of beating.

Between now and August 5, though, runners may be keeping their cards close to their spikes, not over-exerting themselves before the London showdown.

The crowning glory for Van Niekerk, who turns 25 this Saturday, would be to break through the 43-second barrier in the 400m in London. This may be too much to ask given his race load there, though he’s certainly shown he has the potential to make history.

But whether he does it in London or not, don’t miss those six days in August…