Aiden Smith targets South African and African shot-put records

The 21-year-old rising star is currently competing at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana, where he hopes to continue his impressive season with another major title.

The championships started on Tuesday and run until Saturday.

Smith has already established himself as one of the country’s top field athletes after winning back-to-back South African shot-put titles.

Now, his attention has shifted to the long-standing South African record of 21.97m, set by Janus Robberts on 2 June 2001.

The Central Gauteng Athletics thrower has a personal best of 20.73m, achieved at Pilditch Stadium last year, and he believes a breakthrough performance is around the corner.

Smith has enjoyed a strong campaign this season. Apart from successfully defending his national crown, he also produced an impressive victory at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix and at the University Sport South Africa championships.

His confidence has continued to grow after winning the World Student Games title in Germany last year.

Speaking to SABC Sport from Ghana, Smith said he expects to hit peak form during the continental championships before heading off for his European tour.

“I am expecting to peak in Ghana before I embark on my European season. I am chasing the national record, and I can feel that I am getting closer to the 21m mark,” Smith told national broadcaster.

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The powerful thrower feels that consistency and experience are helping him mature into a serious international contender.

With no Olympic Games or World Senior Championships taking place this year, Smith believes this season offers a perfect opportunity to focus on improving his distances without added pressure.

If he succeeds in rewriting the South African record books, Smith plans to target the African record of 22.10m held by Chukwuebuka Enekwechi. The Nigerian giant set the mark at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, in 2025.

However, Smith knows he must first overcome the national mark before dreaming of continental history.

“Maybe not this year, but maybe at the start of next season or at the Commonwealth Games. I believe I will be in even better shape at the Commonwealth Games and maybe I can break both records there, I mean the national and African record,” he said.

Smith has already identified the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, from 23 July to 2 August as one of the biggest targets of his career.

He hopes not only to compete for a medal there, but to challenge the best throwers in the world.

Before that, though, his immediate mission is to return home from Ghana with the African title.

“In Ghana, the goal is definitely to win the African title. But I believe I will reach my full peak by the time the Commonwealth Games arrive,” he added.

Smith’s rise in athletics has been remarkable. The former rugby player switched to shot put and has quickly developed into one of South Africa’s brightest field-event prospects. His rapid improvement, combined with his confidence and hunger for success, has made many believe that the long-standing national record could finally be under threat.