Varsity Athletics heroes cannot wait for the Olympic Games track and field events to start. The Olympic fever has hit Brazil and the traditional Olympic event that thousands of fans have been waiting for, finally begin on Friday morning.
It’s a dream come true for the likes of Wayde van Niekerk, Akani Simbine, Lindsay Henekom, Rushwahl Saami, Henricho Bruntjies and Caster Semenya just to mention a few. Most of these athletes made their names in the popular Varsity Athletics competition. But from Friday until 20 August, they will be competing at the biggest sporting event in the world.
They can now smell the magnificent Olympic Stadium track. The moment that the Varsity Athletics stars have been waiting for has finally arrived. There is no going back now. Hanekom, who will be running at his first Olympics, says that he is still in dreamland. The feeling of being an Olympian has not yet sunk in yet for the 400m hurdles star.
“It’s as if someone is going to wake me up and say you are dreaming,” Henekom said. “I will only believe it once I step on to that Olympic track. That is when all of this will sink in. I still can’t believe that I’m now an Olympian, it’s an amazing feeling. I just can’t believe it.”
The Olympic Stadium is ready to welcome the scores of athletes and Henekom will be one of them. He just wants to enjoy the experience and learn from his first Olympic appearance. He is hoping that Brazil will be the first of many to come for him. Samaai is also not just a Varsity Athletics making up the numbers in Rio; he is a medal prospect for Team SA. And he is not worried about the pressure; he is confident that he will deliver a medal on the international stage.
Samaai, the current African Senior Athletics Championship long jump champion, is determined to make history. He leaped to an impressive 8.40m at the African Champs, but he is looking to improve on that distance in Rio.
“I just want to jump,” said Samaai. “I have been preparing for this moment and now it’s just few days away. If you told me to jump right now I would jump.”
Simbine is also excited about his 100m event on Saturday, where he will be involved in the heats. The SA record-holder of 9.89 seconds in the 100m, is also in dreamland.
“I have worked for four years for this moment and it’s finally here,” said the speedster. “I just want to enjoy myself now.” And Simbine is not the only one. Luvo Manyonga is also dying to get onto that track. The UP-Tuks lanky jumper is ready for his big moment.
It’s only a matter of time before a Varsity Athletics star brings home a medal. And then we’ll all be in dreamland.
By Charles Baloyi – Daily Sun and Sunday Sun Sports writer – reporting from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
