Dancing with Wayde’s mom

Setting a diffrent stage for Odessa Swarts

SHE may have torn up the athletics track in the 1980s and ‘90s, but does Odessa Swarts have what it takes to seize victory on Dancing with the Stars?

South Africa’s proudest mom re- entered the public spotlight because of her son, Wayde van Niekerk’s recoordshattering running, but her athletic prowess is no secret.

Yesterday, M-Net reported that Swarts would be joining Thembisa Mdoda, Frank Opperman, Juanita de Villiers and Liesl Laurie as contestants on the forthcoming South African version of the hit British reality show.

But it was also reiterated that long before her son was declared a South African Olympic icon, she also lit up the athletics world in her time.

“Having competed provincially as a track-and-field athlete in the late 1980s and early 1990s, she too broke a number of sporting records, and will no doubt be determined to light up the gleaming dance floor in 2018,” said M-Net spokesperson Ingrid Engelbrecht.

Swarts will hopefully prove that running ability can translate to the foxtrot.

“I always wanted to learn how to Tango and Salsa, but with raising kids and the years flying by so fast, I never got to it,” she said.

“My kids are now all grown, and I want to see this as my time to learn new things. I have loved the international seasons of the show, and always wished that I could be part of something like that; so this is an absolute dream come true.”

The channel is teasing audiences by slowly revealing the new contestants, with fans also eager to know who will be added to the judging panel.

“More information will be released in due course,” an M-Net press release stated.

The series will follow 12 untrained local celebrities and ask them to put their best feet forward with the help of highly skilled professional Latin and ballroom dancers.

The show is set to run on Dstv channel 101 from February 4.