A hunger to create even more records
SA running sensation has been nominated for a Laureus award
WAYDE van Niekerk broke one of the most historic world records in sport when he won the 400m Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro. His time of 43.03 seconds bettered Michael Johnson’s 43.18 which had stood since 1999.
Van Niekerk has been nominated for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award. Laureus: Congratulations on your nomination. What does that mean to you?
Wayde van Niekerk: It’s a blessing and yet another milestone or achievement I can tick off, knowing I have been nominated for such a massive award. My focus has been to go out there and represent my country. I thank everyone that has supported me. It’s exciting because I get to see all the other nominees in the other categories. It’s a massive surprise and a great great honour. It was a fantastic performance in Rio. Do you have a particular memory from it?
From that last 50m to the end, when I had the opportunity to share the moment with my friends and family and later on with the South African team. Seeing the inspiration I felt gives me the hunger to keep on wanting to do great things for the country and for my friends.
Which delighted you more: the gold medal, or beating Michael Johnson’s 17-year record?
I don’t think you can put them in the same category, but I feel that at the age of 24 it was another stepping stone. I don’t want to dwell too much around the fact I won Olympic gold and broke the world record because I have so much more to do as an athlete. After the Olympics so much has changed in my life, I can put my family and friends in a better position and give them a better life; that’s my biggest motivation. Before the race, did you think there was a possibility you would break the record? You had to beat Olympians LaShawn Merritt and Kirani James?
I struggled with an injury and I just wanted to give that final race my everything, and that’s what I did. I had so much respect for the competition. Not just LaShawn Merritt and Kirani James, but there was a full line-up of quality guys and real professional athletes that I respect so much and I went out there and showed my respect by putting out a competitive race.
What can you say about Laureus Academy member Johnson?
I was not a massive 400m fan when I was younger. I was more attracted to the shorter distances, but I got to know the 400 more. He’s been a great part of track and field and it was a massive honour to be able to chase down the times he set out and I am grateful it is under my name.
Who was your role model when you were younger?
The people I interact with every day and that is my family and my friends.
You are only 24. Do you have a career plan of what you would like to achieve?
I won’t be neglecting the 400m. There is so much more I can achieve, but at the same time I want to go back to why I started in track and field and that was the 100m and 200m. I’d like to put more effort there and try and achieve great things as well and try and rewrite whatever history I can and have as great performances as I can.
What are your targets for 2017? Would winning a Laureus Award be a pretty good start?
Definitely. Many times my friends say to me that 2016 was a pretty good year, but for me 2016 was just a stepping stone. I would love to make 2017 an even better year.
You are in an interesting category. What do you think of the competition? I can go through the line-up and tell you how every sports person and group have inspired me.
Start with the Iceland football team and how they fought in the European Championship – how a small country believed.
And you look at the Fiji team and it’s a small island and I’ve got to meet some of the guys because I’m a massive Sevens fan. They are great guys and individuals. You can see how they can be a great inspiration to not only their country but to the world.
Nico Rosberg is also inspirational, although I’m more of a Lewis Hamilton fan. He fought hard and it’s great to be champion of Formula One, one of the biggest sports in the world.
I have respect for Leicester City, though I am a massive Liverpool fan.
I know how it feels to break a world record at the Olympic Games and how much preparation it must have taken for Almaz Ayana to break that record (10 000m) so obviously I have a lot of respect for her, knowing that I went through the exact same circumstances. I have massive respect for them all, so I’ll probably be very star-struck at the Laureus Awards.
This interview with world and Olympic 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk was made available by the Laureus World Sports Awards.