Wayde van Niekerk fueled by 2023 disappointments heading into Paris 2024
The Rio 2016 champion hopes the career-threatening injury would ultimately add to his longevity as he targets a return to the podium in Paris 2024.
Athletics
Reaching the final at the World Championships for consecutive years and leaving empty-handed fuels world record holder Wayde van Niekerk’s drive ahead of his third appearance at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
The South African sprinting phenom is fresh off his best season since suffering a career-threatening knee injury in 2017, winning three Diamond League meets and posting the fourth-fastest in the world in 2023.
The 31-year-old Van Niekerk could not convert his dominant performances on the circuit into silverware as he laboured across the line to finish in seventh place. But making it through the rounds into the final twice in as many years would give him some confidence.
“We all want to win the final of a world championship, which didn’t work out that well for me, but it is definitely a driving force. It should make me hungrier because I came so close,” Van Niekerk said on the Behind the Ruck Podcast.
“If we think of any athlete who had a crazy, unexpected injury, most likely don’t make finals and don’t challenge for races. It is about being kinder with yourself again, allowing yourself to be exposed to that environment again, and start believing you are a champion again.”
Wayde van Niekerk: Is this the end?
The two-time world champion from 2015 and 2017 holds himself to a higher standard and will be looking to get back onto the podium at a major championship. After posting an Olympic qualifying time of 44.08 seconds at the 2023 Silesia Diamond League meeting in Poland, he can focus on preparing for the Games.
This is in stark contrast to the build-up to Tokyo 2020 (in 2021) when Van Niekerk belatedly punched his Olympic ticket just 10 days before the end of the qualifying window.
In an interview on the Behind the Ruck Podcast, Van Niekerk said he hoped the three-year injury-enforced hiatus would have a positive knock-on effect by prolonging his career.
“When you hit 30, as a sportsman, you start thinking, is this the end? You start thinking about the latter stages of your career, and you start thinking about retirement. But I am faithful, and I am hoping that the setback that I had gave me a bit of leverage for the next few years that I can use to my advantage,” he said.
“I obviously didn’t compete as aggressively with the injury, and I had some time to strengthen myself and rehab. So now that I am competing, hopefully, this can add some years to the latter stages of my career.”
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 20: Wayde Van Niekerk of Team South Africa competes in the Men's 400m Heats during day two of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 20, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Wayde van Niekerk: Celebrating small victories
Van Niekerk is yet to open his season after spending time with family and friends in South Africa over the festive season. The versatile sprinter, who is the first athlete to produce sub-10, sub-20, sub-31 and sub-44 performances in the 100m, 200m, 300m and 400m, respectively, is back in full training as he looks to reclaim the crown he conceded, in Tokyo.
“Today is a blessing for me, so I just want to soak it all in right now and make sure I execute right now as best as possible,” Van Niekerk said.
“These little victories will make the big picture. But as athletes, we want to achieve that bigger goal. It will always be in your heart, but I don’t want to get too carried away or too excited about something that still needs a lot of work.”