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 The marketing student at Free State University was not allowed to
run in his first major race of the season on Friday after failing to
attend enough classes for a minimum 60 academic credits during 2015
when he emerged as a major talent.
Van Niekerk, 23, collapsed in a heap after the world championship
final in Beijing in August after holding off two former champions to
run the sixth fastest 400m of all time in 43.48 seconds.
“I still have a big year ahead of me and I’m going to try and find
myself the appropriate races to race and find myself the right
competitions to compete at so that I can find fitness before the
Olympics at the end of the year,” Van Niekerk told Reuters in a
telephone interview.
Van Niekerk plans to compete in the 100m and 200m races at the Free
State championship next week.
“For the Olympics I am purely focused on the 400. I believe that I
stand quite a good chance there now, so I don’t think I’m going to
gamble too much at Rio,” he said.
American Michael Johnson set the world record of 43.18 in 1999.
“At the moment I am just focused on improving me and if that means I
get my own personal world record then I will accept it,” Van Niekerk
said.
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Van Niekerk is becoming used to life in the media spotlight and the
celebrity status of being world champion.
“I am good shape, I am in good health,” said the self-confessed
introvert who relaxes at home in his spare time watching movies or
playing video games with his brother and girlfriend.
South Africa’s only 400 meters Olympic gold medal winner was Bevil
Rudd, who triumphed at the 1920 Antwerp Games.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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