Baby son inspires Olympic hurdler to aim even higher
SOUTH Africa’s 400m hurdles champion, LJ van Zyl, has become a dad for the first time.
Irvette, wife of the Olympic athlete who recently competed at the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Championships in Beijing, gave birth to their son at a Pretoria hospital on Monday.
“Being there seeing my son being born was the most amazing experience. I always wondered how it is going to be and now I can in all honesty, say it is definitely a better experience than any of the races I’ve won.
“There are no words to describe my feelings when I got to hold my son for the first time. The nurses told me to take off my shirt and hold him close to my chest. He has quite a voice on him for such a little guy, but to me the sound of him crying is one of the most beautiful noises I have ever heard,” an ecstatic Van Zyl said.
According to the Pretoria University High Performance Centre athlete, little Louis is rather skinny.
“He has quite an athletic built. His legs are constantly moving, which resembles the movements made by a cyclist. Maybe he will take up cycling one day.
“Actually, I don’t mind what he does when he grows up. It would be nice if he takes to athletics, but if he doesn’t, it’s not going to be the end of the world. All that Irvette and I want for him is to be happy and healthy. Being a dad is just such a wonderful feeling.”
Van Zyl was, however, going to have to put his new role as dad on hold for a while as he was due to fly out on Friday to Brussels to compete in the Diamond League Meeting. “I would’ve preferred not to go but I have given the organisers my word that I will be there, so I feel it is just right that I fulfil my commitments. Luckily Irvette supports me. I am literally just going to be in and out. On Saturday morning, I will be flying back to South Africa,” the athlete said.
“It’s going to be strange running my first race as a dad. I know Louis doesn’t care where and if I run, but he is going to be my motivation on Friday.
“I want to make him proud. I am not going to commit myself to a definite result. My goal is going to be to try to run a time faster than 49 seconds,” he said. – ANA
My goal is to eclipse 49 seconds just for him