- The team won gold at World Relays in May and now van Niekerk joins them for the big competition.
- Van Niekerk ran his fastest 200 metres time since 2017 but says he must be realistic about his chances.
South Africa’s relay team believes they can win a medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this weekend.
The team has two of the world’s fastest runners. Zakithi Nene, Gardeo Isaacs, world junior champion Udeme Okon and 18-year-old Leendert Koekemoer won gold at the World Relays in May.
Now world record holder Wayde van Niekerk joins the team for Tokyo.
Van Niekerk did not run in the May competition. But he said he is ready to help the team do better.
“As a team, we really want a medal in the 4x400m relay. I have wanted to be part of that for a long time,” he said on Monday before flying out from OR Tambo International.
He said his body is holding up well and he is ready to give his best, The Citizen reported.
The 400 metres world record holder ran 20.07 seconds in the 200 metres in Budapest last month. This was his fastest time since 2017.
But van Niekerk knows it will not be easy. “I am obviously not close to medal chances yet. I have to be realistic,” he said.
“There is a long way to go. We will take it step by step. Heats, then semi-finals, then the final.”
Nene ran the world’s fastest 400 metres time this year at 43.76 seconds in Nairobi. He will anchor the team.
He hurt his hamstring four weeks ago but says he has fully recovered.
“I am all good,” he said. “Recovery has been going well. I am in the best shape possible going into worlds.”
The World Athletics Championships start in Tokyo on Saturday.
Pictured above: Wayde van Niekerk
Image source: Wayde van Niekerk Instagram
