Jamaican legend Usain Bolt never doubted Wayde van Niekerk’s sprint pedigree

08 September 2016 - 09:17 By Mninawa Ntloko

Wayde van Niekerk says he hopes to emulate Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt one day and also win numerous Olympic gold medals.Moments after winning another 100m Olympic gold medal at the Rio-held global showpiece last month‚ a visibly impressed Bolt congratulated the South African on his 400m world record and gold medal.The two athletes trained together in Jamaica before the Rio Olympic Games and Van Niekerk said after the Jamaican saw his performance in one of their training sessions‚ Bolt predicted that the South African would break the world record.‘‘There was a moment when we were together in Jamaica when he said to me he believed I could break the world record in the 400m‚” Van Niekerk said.‘‘It was after we’d had a few sessions together. That’s why after the race in Rio he came to me and said ’I told you I told you’.”Van Niekerk said he would always cherish that famous moment when Bolt went up to him and congratulated him.‘‘It was a very special moment‚” Van Niekerk said.‘‘That is a man I look up to in terms of inspiration and motivation. I want to be where he is today. I want to achieve the records that he has achieved as well. Just having him come to me ..........” - TMG Digital..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.