Injury hits Steenkamp’s London hopes

A rollercoaster week of emotion for hurdler Rikenette Steenkamp (right) has ended on a definite downer as she has been forced to withdraw from the IAAF World Athletics Championships, starting in London on Friday.

She’s been forced to follow Olympic javelin silver medallist Sunette Viljoen’s in withdrawing from the South African team.

Steenkamp received a late invite from the IAAF to be part of the team but pulled up with a hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old Tukkies student, a national 100m hurdles champion at every age-group level, said: “I was busy training, actually preparing for World Student Championships, not the worlds.

“In my second last run I felt it pull slightly. It’s not a severe injury but full recovery is very important to me so I had to withdraw.

“The timing is just heart-breaking as I’ve had a great season, actually it’s a miracle season. Since January to now I’ve performed beyond my expectation so I’m still smiling,” said Steenkamp.

“I haven’t decided yet on World Students (in Taiwan),” she said.

Steenkamp is refusing to let the bad news get to her and remains steadfastly behind her fellow South Africans in London.

“I won’t fight what happened and understand that everything happening is happening for a purpose. I’ll give my body the rest it needs.” – ANA