Van Niekirk back to his best?

GreatDane wrote:

A lot of critics have poured cold water on Van Niekirk saying he is past his prime but all indications are that he could well be shaping up for a super season this year. His relay leg at last years WC in the 4X400m of 43.26 in pouring rain was one of the fastest splits ever and given the conditions I would argue quite possibly the best single split ever run. Now this season he has just opened with a 10.13 100m and 20.32 in the 200m at a local meet in South Africa. For his season openers in 2016 when he set the current WR of 43.03 his season openers were 10.12 and 20.97. Things are definitely looking up for him. Big respect to him for his never give up attitude. One of my favourite athletes.

Discus

GreatDane wrote:

A lot of critics have poured cold water on Van Niekirk saying he is past his prime but all indications are that he could well be shaping up for a super season this year. His relay leg at last years WC in the 4X400m of 43.26 in pouring rain was one of the fastest splits ever and given the conditions I would argue quite possibly the best single split ever run. Now this season he has just opened with a 10.13 100m and 20.32 in the 200m at a local meet in South Africa. For his season openers in 2016 when he set the current WR of 43.03 his season openers were 10.12 and 20.97. Things are definitely looking up for him. Big respect to him for his never give up attitude. One of my favourite athletes.

Discus

GreatDane wrote:

A lot of critics have poured cold water on Van Niekirk saying he is past his prime but all indications are that he could well be shaping up for a super season this year. His relay leg at last years WC in the 4X400m of 43.26 in pouring rain was one of the fastest splits ever and given the conditions I would argue quite possibly the best single split ever run. Now this season he has just opened with a 10.13 100m and 20.32 in the 200m at a local meet in South Africa. For his season openers in 2016 when he set the current WR of 43.03 his season openers were 10.12 and 20.97. Things are definitely looking up for him. Big respect to him for his never give up attitude. One of my favourite athletes.

Discus

GreatDane wrote:

A lot of critics have poured cold water on Van Niekirk saying he is past his prime but all indications are that he could well be shaping up for a super season this year. His relay leg at last years WC in the 4X400m of 43.26 in pouring rain was one of the fastest splits ever and given the conditions I would argue quite possibly the best single split ever run. Now this season he has just opened with a 10.13 100m and 20.32 in the 200m at a local meet in South Africa. For his season openers in 2016 when he set the current WR of 43.03 his season openers were 10.12 and 20.97. Things are definitely looking up for him. Big respect to him for his never give up attitude. One of my favourite athletes.

Discus

GreatDane wrote:

A lot of critics have poured cold water on Van Niekirk saying he is past his prime but all indications are that he could well be shaping up for a super season this year. His relay leg at last years WC in the 4X400m of 43.26 in pouring rain was one of the fastest splits ever and given the conditions I would argue quite possibly the best single split ever run. Now this season he has just opened with a 10.13 100m and 20.32 in the 200m at a local meet in South Africa. For his season openers in 2016 when he set the current WR of 43.03 his season openers were 10.12 and 20.97. Things are definitely looking up for him. Big respect to him for his never give up attitude. One of my favourite athletes.

Discus

wvn questions wrote:

Do you have a link to results? Video? I can't find anything about these races.

Didn't he say the relay last year was the final time he'd run the 400?

UkrainianHunk wrote:

Sorry but he isn't back to his best. He is still relevant but not the same guy he once was. He's dropped fast times randomly over the seasons but it's never lead to anything. Opened to a 20.03(+2.2) straight 200m last year but didn't make the 200m finals last year, 2023 dropped several 44 lows but only got 7ths in the World Championship finals, 2020 dropped a 10.15 and 20.31 around this same time. Obviously covid that year but nothing stood out from that year and didn't build off it for 2021. He did split a 43.2 in the 4x4 final which does deserve some attention.

ringo-starr wrote:

UkrainianHunk wrote:

Sorry but he isn't back to his best. He is still relevant but not the same guy he once was. He's dropped fast times randomly over the seasons but it's never lead to anything. Opened to a 20.03(+2.2) straight 200m last year but didn't make the 200m finals last year, 2023 dropped several 44 lows but only got 7ths in the World Championship finals, 2020 dropped a 10.15 and 20.31 around this same time. Obviously covid that year but nothing stood out from that year and didn't build off it for 2021. He did split a 43.2 in the 4x4 final which does deserve some attention.

If he split 43.2, then how has it never led to anything?

Hi there! wrote:

He really should have stuck to soccer as a child. He is such a gifted athlete, would be a multimillionaire by now.

ringo-starr wrote:

If he split 43.2, then how has it never led to anything?

Time is Pitiless wrote:

He’s too old to be back to his best. Unless he… well, you know…