When he broke his first world record earlier this year, 11-year-old Decland Wright said, “I’ll definitely break more world records”.
And he meant it.
It is without a doubt that the year has been great for the talented local athlete.
Decland currently holds the South African U11 championship title, which he claimed in the final race of the year on 22 November in Sasolburg, after running the 1200m race and breaking the record by a whopping 00:03:31:95.
He has three South African titles and is also the proud title holder of four world records so far.
“Breaking records is what I do best,” he laughed.
“It feels good to break records, and to achieve the goals that my father and I set for myself.”
Decland draws inspiration from his father Donovan, a former double-gold medallist in the Comrades Marathon, who also acts as his coach.
However, Donovan is currently battling T-cell Non Hodgkin Lymphoma.
“My father motivates me. He might be battling cancer, but he motivates me to remain positive and to work hard. He always tells me that I can do better.
“Even though he is sick, he coaches me, and that, for me, is inspiring,” he said.
His brother Dougan is also an athlete who focuses on the 400m and 800m race.
Decland started running track events when he was eight years old, and he clearly hasn’t looked back since.
He has won every event he participated in – a total of 23 races.
Speaking at his Westdene home, Decland said nerves are never a factor whenever he competes.
“I am never nervous. I mean, what is the point of training hard if I am going to get nervous? Should I lose a race, I would know that my mind was not in the right place.”
Due to his father’s illness, Shadrack Hoff – South Africa’s 5 000m, 10km and 15km road champion and Decland’s pace setter – said he would like to take over the coaching of the the young lad.
“We are really impressed with his performance,” said Hoff.
Decland’s mother Marita expressed her excitement about her son’s achievements.
“He has grown and I am proud of him. It is just amazing that I am surrounded by athletes,” she said.
Although breaking world records seems to be Decland’s current hobby, he wants to study mechanical engineering in the future.
