The rise of Koekemoer: A new star is born in South African athletics

SOME are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them, according to William Shakespeare.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

South Africa’s latest one-lap sensation, Leendert Koekemoer, falls into the latter category.

And those marvelling at his achievements in helping South Africa to gold in the 4x400m at the Athletics World Relays in Guangzhou, China last weekend can scarcely believe that he is still only 17.

But while their endorsement will mean a lot, there is one person who had a front-row seat to the young sprinter’s historic achievement, and has been added to a growing list of admirers.

The plaudits were already assured for established 400m star Zakithe Nene, when he collected the baton from the teenager on the anchor leg and stormed to gold in a world lead 2:57.50, trimming 0.62 seconds off the national record.

However, the Olympic semi-finalist and Diamond League race winner has admitted that the hard graft was left to the two youngest members of the squad, matric pupils Udeme Okon and Koekemoer.

“I did run the anchor leg, but I feel like my teammates made the job so much easier for me,” Nene said on the triumphant team’s return to South Africa this week.