Gorries backs van Niekerk to bounce back

Prominent South African sprint coach Paul Gorries believes Wayde van Niekerk is well on his way to his best following his recent showing at the World Athletics Championships.

For the first time in five years, van Niekerk - once a 400m Olympic and World champion - reached a major final during the Championships in Oregon, United States, last month.

The former golden boy of SA athletics got injured while playing a charity touch rugby game in 2017 and, following several attempts at a comeback, his performances on the track took a nose dive. 

However, he showed glimpses of his previous best with a time of 44.97 seconds as he finished fifth in the 200m final, and Gorries believes the 30-year-old needs two more years to get back to his best. 

"The fact that he made the final, with the disruptive year it has been for him, I think we'll definitely see a better version of Wayde - or let's put it this way, the older version of Wayde - in the next two years to come," said Gorries.

"He's a championship guy, he's a world record holder, he's an Olympic champion and a world champ, what more can you say about him? Personally, I want to see him do well and I'm rooting for him all the way to come back and compete and do well, where he belongs.

"It's not just [good] for him but the sport in general, and South Africa in general. His doing well puts us on a pedestal and the juniors can [benefit]."

By Charles Baloyi