Wayde Van Niekerk looks to recapture world record form with split from coach and move to USA

South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk has introduced a break up from his long-term athletics coach Tannie Ans Botha.

The 400m world record holder and Olympic champion posted on his ‘WaydeDreamer’ social media accounts that he plans to maneuver to the USA to coach in Claremont, Florida, with Lance Brauman.

Van Niekerk will prepare alongside reigning males’s 200m world champion Noah Lyles and reigning ladies’s 400m Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

Wayde van Niekerk grateful for improvement beneath Tannie Ans Botha

“I’ve spent most of my profession beneath the steering of Tannie Ans Botha at my house base in Bloemfontein and I can’t categorical the gratitude I’ve for all the pieces she has executed to assist me so far in my profession‚” Van Niekerk said in the statement.

“As a lot as I’ve loved my expertise with Tannie Ans and her group‚ I’m hoping to interrupt my world file and to try this I would like to make sure I’m coaching alongside the world’s finest sprinters.

“So I really feel a short lived transfer to the US shall be in my finest pursuits for the speedy future. I sit up for working with my new coach and coaching companions‚ and I hope to proceed carrying the SA flag with satisfaction at worldwide stage.”

Van Niekerk is but to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Video games which occur in 2021. He injured his proper knee taking part in contact rugby late in 2017 and since has not competed at a world stage with consistency.

Blanka Vlasic retires

In the meantime, two-time Olympic medal-winning excessive jumper Blanka Vlasic has dominated herself out of competition from Tokyo 2020 for particular.

The favored Croatian formally confirmed her retirement after a collection of damage struggles.

“I’ll at all times keep within the sport. With my expertise and information, I wish to completely and actively contribute to the additional improvement of world athletics and sports activities basically,” she mentioned.