Track gods smile on Wayde’s lane as top rival falls ill
DOUBLE 400m world champion Wayde van Niekerk says he wanted to embrace Isaac Makwala when his rival was ordered out of the world championships because of an infectious illness.
The Motswana star, considered Van Niekerk’s biggest threat to his 400m-200m double attempt in London, was quarantined until yesterday afternoon amid fears over an outbreak of norovirus.
Makwala missed the 200m heats on Monday as well as the 400m final, turned away at the stadium gate on Tuesday as organisers moved to prevent the bug, which causes nausea and diarrhoea, from spreading.
“I saw him just before the 200m heats as well and the only thing I could think of was just wrapping my arms around him and telling him that he should get well soon because I wouldn’t want that for any competitor,” Van Niekerk said after retaining his 400m crown in 43.98sec.
“As much we all strive to leave with gold medals we all also want to go out there and have the best guys on the track with us and it’s such a massive pity.”
About 30 people were affected by illness, with at least two cases of norovirus confirmed by Tuesday evening.
There had initially been rumours that food poisoning was behind the illnesses, but organisers said the hotel where the outbreak occurred had been cleared.
“There are a lot of fingers being pointed right now,” Van Niekerk told journalists at a press conference.
“I just know he’s ill and he’s obviously in a different hotel to the one I’m in
“I believe he would have done very, very well at these championships and like I said earlier I’ve got so much sympathy for him.
“I really wish that I could even give him my medal, to be honest with you, but this is sport, these things happen.”
Van Niekerk, who beat Makwala over 400m at the Diamond League meet in Monaco last month, might have been pushed a little harder in Tuesday’s final, but he would surely still have won.
Makwala might have posed a bigger danger in the 200m, having recently posted a 19.77sec personal best, the fastest time in the world this year ahead of the South African’s 19.84 national record.
With Canada’s Olympic silver medallist in this event, Andre De Grasse, pulling out injured last week, Van Niekerk’s odds of a double have improved.
SA’s Olympic 400m champion also lamented the withdrawal to illness of 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James, who had taken silver at the Rio Games last year.
Van Niekerk pointed out even he had issues in the wake of his 2016 triumph.
“Right after Rio I found out I had a back injury so this entire season I’ve been struggling to gain some fitness and to get some consistent training.
“But at the same time my times went from strength to strength within the [shorter] disciplines and I know that each and every race was important for me to build some momentum …
“I’m actually looking forward to this off-season, putting in the hard work and hopefully have a pain-free off-season, but I was told no top athlete can go through a season injury-free.” so it is quite disappointing.