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Despite running a personal best in the women’s 400m hurdles heats at the FISU World University Games on Wednesday medal hopeful Hannah van Niekerk could adjust her approach to push for gold.
Van Niekerk powered through the semifinals with a strong 56.16 on the clock and will be in lane four tonight.
Speaking to SABC Sport ahead of anticipating another podium finish for Team SA, the 22-year-old sounded confident.
"We fought really, really well. I really had to focus on little key points to make sure that I can go through to the final and I actually ran a PB. I'm super, super happy and then tomorrow anything can happen,” Van Niekerk said.
“We'll go for gold, it definitely motivates you, once you see they have a medal, you also really want to win even more, so definitely motivates us to keep working hard and to keep going."
The Team SA camp has been through a rollercoaster of emotions with a few athletes
getting disqualified, while others leave with medals.
Van Niekerk spoke about the motivation from within as well as how she plans to tackle
the final this evening.
"Yes, so obviously those that have unfortunately been disqualified are a little bit down but they keep us positive, keep us motivated so we can keep going. Hurdle seven is always a tricky one so I have to remember that for the final but then definitely that last 100m to just be able to fight even more," she added.
The Tuks student has an idea of how strong her opposition is.
"I mean there are a couple of people that have a 54, which is really, really fast but most of us have a 56. So, just seeing the competition now and seeing how, I don't know what the first seed was but seeing that most of us ran a 56 kind of just keeps you motivated because you know you can still go and try for the medal.
“Even if they were to run a 55 that should motivate you to run even faster."
