Athens - A dream comes true for laid-back Pretoria athlete Alwyn Myburgh when he takes on the best hurdlers in the world, spearheaded by gold-medal favourite Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, in the 400m hurdles final at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday night.
"Ever since I finished 13th in the Sydney Olympics, it's been my four-year dream to make this final," said Myburgh after his 48.21sec semifinal pushed him into the final as the fastest loser for third behind winner Sanchez on Tuesday night, when Sydney 2000 bronze medal winner Llewellyn Herbert and young Ockert Cilliers were eliminated.
It has all come together at the right time for Myburgh - shape, form, technique and speed.
Now he wants to bring his smooth hurdling of his heat in line with his speed in the semi. "Now it's to apply the mental," said the likeable 24-year-old. "Felix and these other guys are just humans. Anything can happen in the final."
So much was evident when defending Olympic champion Angelo Taylor stumbled at the second-last hurdle and lost momentum to finish behind Myburgh in a race won by Sanchez, the world champion, who recorded the fastest time in the semis at 47.86.
Myburgh, whose personal best is 48.09sec, comes up against Danny McFarlane (Jamaica), winner of the second final with a PB 48.00 and James Carter (US) who won the third semi in 48.18sec.
Myburgh, the son of former SA champion hurdlers Hugo and Hybre who now live in England, is primed for a career-best if it all comes right on the night.
Perhaps even a sub-48sec is possible, which may not be good for gold on paper, but the manner in which he has challenged Sanchez in his nonchalant manner, he could well edge a medal.
As he says, anything can happen in a final.
In the high jump, world champion Hestrie Cloete will go for a 1.95 metres clearance to qualify for the final on Saturday.
"It's one step at a time," said Cloete, who turns 26 on Thursday. "First the qualifier, then my focus falls on the final. Then I worry about when I will celebrate my birthday."
