LJ wants SA's first medal
2008-08-17 22:10
Wilhelm de Swardt
Beijing - The fight starts now, says South African 400m hurdles athlete LJ van Zyl. "This is the twelfth round and I am ready."
Van Zyl is determined to beat the three American favourites in the final of the event at the Olympic Games here on Monday. The race is scheduled to start at 16:00, SA time.
Two other South Africans, Ter de Villiers and Alwyn Myburgh, were eliminated in the semi-finals but Van Zyl came third in 48.57sec in the heat that American Angelo Taylor won in 48.05. Bershawn Jackson finished second.
Another American, Kerron Clement, won the other semi-final in 48.27.
Van Zyl has seen enough of the Americans' heels this year. He believes he can beat them.
"I have beaten all of them. The fight really starts now but it's not about who can run fastest. In any final it's about the one who is mentally strongest; the one who is hungriest for victory."
Van Zyl expects the race to be won in about 47.5. If that turns out to be correct, the statistics are against him. His best time this year is 48.22 and his career best is 48.05.
However, he is confident that he can run faster. "Remember, I learn more each time I compete in a major meeting.
"I don't want to make the same mistake that I made in Helsinki. There I ran a 48.16 in the semi-final. It cost me, because I had nothing left in the final; my legs were gone."
Taylor feels he, Clement and Jackson can take all the medals.
"Won't it be incredible if we can finish first, second and third," he said on Sunday.
Taylor feels it was important to win his semi-final. "I want the others to know I am back and I am hungry for victory."
Jackson who is competing in the Olympic Games for the first time, says a medal is all that matters for him. "I don't care what the colour is."
Clement said on Sunday he just wanted to remain focussed. "It's the final; anything can happen."
De Villiers finished seventh in 49.44 in his semi-final on Saturday and Myburgh fifth in 49.16.