Hezekiel Sepeng believes Wayde van Niekerk can also dominate the 200m
Wayde van Niekerk can also become a force to be reckoned with in the 200m‚ former SA 800m champions Hezekiel Sepeng believes. The golden boy‚ Van Niekerk‚ became the toast of the town when he won a gold medal in a record time of 43.03seconds in the 400m in the early hours of Monday morning. (watch video below)“For any athlete‚ especially being South African‚ it is great to see what Wayde has done‚” Sepeng‚ who won silver in the 800m at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta‚ told Times Media Digital.“He has shown he is one of the best in the world‚ not only by winning gold but by breaking the world record so comfortably.“For sure‚ he is the best athlete ever produced in SA. We have had athletes winning medals before‚ but getting gold and a world record – Wayde is definitely the best we have seen.” After claiming the gold in the 400m‚ Sepeng now believes that Van Niekerk has what it takes to dominate in the 200m.“He is still young and has so much to give for so many years to come‚” said Sepeng.“I think he will now go for the 200m. We will see what he can do there.“If Michael Johnson could do the double‚ then it is certainly possible for Wayde to do it as well.” In 1996 at the Atlanta Games‚ Johnson claimed gold in the 200m and 400m.Van Niekerk will not be taking part in the 200m event in Rio‚ but Sepeng believes at the next Olympics the 24-year-old could repeat Johnson’s feat.Usain Bolt stops an interview to go congratulate Wayde van Niekerk (watch video below)Johnson had previously held the 400m record (43.18) which Van Niekerk broke.Sepeng also believes that Van Niekerk’s feat bodes well for the future of SA athletics. “There is more to come from Wayde and other athletes like Akani (Simbine) in the 100m‚” he said.“These guys have proven that sprints are not only for athletes who come from Jamaica or the USA‚ but South Africans can become world beaters too.“They have taken athletics to another level. Others will now start to believe that it is possible for South Africans to be on top in world athletics.” - TMG Digital..
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