What’s next for Wayde van Niekerk? – The Citizen

So Wayde van Niekerk has proved he’s again in type after successful the 200m race eventually week’s ASA Athletix Invitational in Roodepoort, however what’s subsequent for the versatile star?

Nationwide problem

Van Niekerk is heading abroad to organize for his hardest targets this 12 months, however he doesn’t have to journey overseas to discover a problem.

Whereas it’s unclear which occasion he’ll contest at subsequent week’s ASA Senior Championships in Pretoria, he’ll discover robust competitors wherever he appears to be like.

Within the 100m and 200m he’ll face SA document holder Akani Simbine, and he’s additionally obtained the likes of resurgent speedster Anaso Jobodwana, in-form dangerman Luxolo Adams and unpredictable rocket Clarence Munyai, offered they’re all damage free, to take care of.

Even within the 400m, a distance at which he has probably not been examined since his comeback, Van Niekerk will should be able to sq. up towards junior prodigy Lythe Pillay.

Van Niekerk secures victory within the males’s 200m race on the ASA Athletix Invitational. Image: Gallo Pictures

New surroundings

As profitable as he was below former coach Ans Botha, Van Niekerk believes he wants one other edge if he’s to interrupt the 43-second barrier within the 400m occasion, asserting in February that he could be working with US-based coach Lance Brauman within the build-up to his title defence on the Tokyo Olympics.

Although Covid restrictions have delayed his departure to the US, the place he’ll prepare with 200m world champion Noah Lyles, it stays a key a part of his plans this 12 months.

Botha and Van Niekerk had been a formidable group, and it’s a dangerous transfer, however to interrupt new floor generally requires a contemporary strategy.

Not even Van Niekerk is aware of whether or not it’s a very good transfer, however he’ll know quickly sufficient. As will we.

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Olympic gold

Van Niekerk talks commonly about his ambition to interrupt his personal 400m world document of 43.03, however whether or not or not he’ll be capable of chase that objective so quickly after his return is unclear.

What is obvious is that he’s obtained an actual likelihood of defending his Olympic one-lap title in Tokyo.

In his absence, Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas gained the world title in 2019 in a swift time of 43.48.

Since Van Niekerk was sidelined by a knee damage after retaining his world title in 2017, American athletes Michael Norman (43.45) and Fred Kerley (43.64) have additionally dipped below 44 seconds, together with Akeem Bloomfield of Jamaica (43.94).

So he’s obtained his work minimize out for him towards a brand new era, and he hasn’t confronted them but at their finest, but when Van Niekerk’s confidence and early type are a good choose of his potential, his opponents are more likely to be as cautious of him as he’s of them.

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