Armant dreams big of throwing the javelin at the Olympics

Van der Linden set a new record of 63.93m at an athletics meeting earlier this year in Sasolburg, a feat which was one of many he achieved – this year alone.

Armant van der Linden a youth who dreams big.

Javelin u-16 record holder Armant van der Linden has his sights set on leaving a lasting impression at the Interprovincial Championships scheduled to take place at the Puk McArthur Stadium.

The Boksburg South rising star will be representing Central Gauteng at the stadia in Potchefstroom.

When the Advertiser met the athlete at the Boksburg City Stadium, he outlined his plans for the sport and said: “My short term plans for 2018 are to represent my province at the interprovincial championships at the end of November.

“My goal for next year is to throw 70m and to hopefully break the u-16 national record.

“My long-term plans include competing with the best in the world at the IAAF circuit representing South Africa, and hopefully one day compete at the Olympic Games.”

Van der Linden’s 2018 list of achievements also includes a Gauteng schools gold medal, SA schools bronze, a Noordvaal division B gold, a Naboomspruit top 10 gold which accompanied his personal best throw of 67.73m, a King Price flash meeting gold and a top 30 gold in Potchefstroom.

The former baseball player acquires his education at Hoërskool Garsfontein in Pretoria because that is where his coach, Tobie Holtzhausen, whom he says is his biggest inspiration, is situated.

Quizzed about his coach, he said: “My coach has helped me a lot with my development. Being a javelin thrower himself, he knows what works and what doesn’t, and is always encouraging me.

“Javelin throwing is one of the oldest activities known to man. It’s one of the few sports where you compete and watch your work fly, and if it flies for a long time, you’ve done a good job.”

On how he became a javelin thrower, the multiple gold medalist explained: “I was always fascinated by the sport and got the privilege to go to Europe as an entry level javelin thrower.

“Also on the tour was Brendon Skinner, the u-17 national record holder (83.86m) who took me under his wing and introduced me to my current coach.”