Olympic test for Pukke’s best

The 2016 Rio Olympic Games are almost upon us and, with 41 different sporting codes, it is sure to be a festival of supreme athletic quality in a lot of different aspects. From 5-21 August the cream of the crop has the opportunity to represent their country in the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet. Potchefstroom and the NWU boast with two contenders that could take home the gold medal in the athletics section at this year’s Olympic Games.

The most obvious choice, based on form and previous accomplishments, is the 800-metres defending Olympic silver medalist, Caster Semenya.

Semenya (25) has had a storming year, overpowering her opponents, not only in the 800-meter but also showing her class in the 400- and 1500-metre races. The main goal in her competing in the 400-m and 1500-m was to up her game and to prepare her physically and mentally for her preferred discipline.

The NWU Pukke athlete recorded a season’s best of 1:56.64 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting at Rabat in May and is the current world leader. Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba is the current indoor leader and recorded a season’s best of 1:56.92 in Birmingham. Margaret Wambui of Kenya is also an outsider for Olympic Gold this year.

Another big prospect for a medal for Potchefstroom is Sunette Viljoen, the veteran javelin thrower, who, under the coaching of Terseus Liebenberg, seems to have found her mojo just in time for Rio.

“Sunette will compete in the Diamond League in Monaco on Friday. This will be a good indication of her form going into the Olympics,” said Liebenberg.

This will be Viljoen’s fourth Olympic Games and most probably her final chance to get an Olympic medal after previous frustrating times on the biggest stage.

Viljoen’s season best is 65.14 which she threw at Doha during the Diamond League.

This places her sixth best in the world and she will need to surpass that mark at the Olympic Games – and what a stage it would be to do it! The current world leader and favourite is Barbora Špotáková, who threw a 66.87. The Czech athlete is also the world-record holder and current Olympic champion.