Retired LJ has a new life and he’s loving it

LJ van Zyl sits in his chair at a coffee shop in Pretoria, looking as relaxed as one would expect from a man whose profession has run its course.

“I’m retired,” he says with a glimmer of relief. He says it a few more times, as if he needs to remind himself that it is really over.

But there’s no sign of regret in his voice as he recalls some of the many races he has run. He’s thought about hanging up his spikes for some tine, and he was prepared for it when the time finally came.

When he crossed the finish line in the 400m hurdles heats at the recent Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, he knew that was it. At the age of 33, his career had ended.

“It just felt right to do it after racing on a big stage,” he says of his decision.

“Australia was an amazing experience – maybe the best of my whole career – and it just felt right to end it there.”

Van Zyl admits he didn’t achieve all his goals. He never bagged an Olympic medal, which was well within his reach, and he never won the world title, which he feels he could have done in 2009 and again in 2011 when he settled for bronze.

But his list of achievements is long. Almost as long as his 17-year international career.

He won the world junior title at the age of 16, and by 20 he was the Commonwealth Games champion. His tally of international titles also includes African Championships and African Games gold medals, and he holds the national record of 47.66 which he clocked twice during the 2011 season.

Van Zyl will be best remembered,

Wesley Bo on

however, for his incredible longevity and consistency, and of all the statistics that portray these characteristics, the most astounding is this: Every year for 17 seasons, between the ages of 16 and 33, he dipped under 49.50 in his specialist 400m hurdles event, clocking an average season’s best of 48.68.

One would be hard-pressed to find another athlete who displayed that sort of consistency and longevity at the highest level.

Looking ahead, Van Zyl wants to stay involved in athletics but he’s not quite sure what direction he’ll take.

Well-respected as a member the global athletics community, and possessing a tremendous amount of knowledge about the sport which extends far beyond the hurdles discipline, Van Zyl would be useful as a manager, coach or analyst. And if he discovers none of those options suit him enough, his interest in farming could open other doors too.

But for the immediate future he’s not making any lifelong commitments, and right now he’s happy to enjoy the break while considering his options.

Van Zyl takes another sip of coffee.

“I’m retired,” he says again, smiling once more.

I shake my head. “You’re unemployed.”

He laughs, his shoulders relaxing as he puts down his cup and sinks into his chair.

Tomorrow he doesn’t have to push his body to its limits. For the first time in nearly two decades he has no racing or training commitments to worry about.

Like all professionals who retire from lengthy careers, he has earned the opportunity to rest. It’s a luxury not afforded to many, but it requires dedication, sacrifice and hard work, all of which Van Zyl has produced in abundance.

He orders another cup of coffee and changes the subject.

After focusing on the same thing day in and day out since he was a teenager, he can finally allow his mind to wander.

Life for LJ van Zyl the athlete might have come to an end, but life for LJ van Zyl the husband, father, analyst and farmer has only just begun.