Wayde van Niekerk has parted ways with his coach Tannie Ans Botha and will be heading to America to train with a group of US athletes.
The Olympic gold medalist will train with the likes of 200m world champion Noal Lyles and the South African will be under the tutelage of Lance Brauman.
Van Niekerk will be looking to better his 400m record as he prepares for the Olympics in Tokyo later this year.
He says he has nothing but thanks his former coach Tannie Ans and all she has helped achieve over the years.
“I’ve spent most of my career under the guidance of Tannie Ans Botha at my home base in Bloemfontein and I can’t express the gratitude I have for everything she has done to help me to this point in my career‚” Van Niekerk said in a statement.
Hi Dreamers! Pls see statement below:
— Wayde van Niekerk (@WaydeDreamer) February 19, 2021
I've spent most of my career under the guidance of the amazing ‘Tannie' Ans at my home base in Bloem and I can't express the gratitude I have for everything she has done to help me get to this point in my career🙏![CDATA[]]>🏽 pic.twitter.com/RII0LTJm0Q
Van Niekerk will reasses his plans for the future after the Olympics later this year.
As much as I have enjoyed every moment here, I hope to break my WR & to do that I need to be training alongside the world's best sprinters. I feel a temp move to the US will be in my best interest for now. I’m really going to miss Tannie but she will always be my mentor! 💜 pic.twitter.com/6rAT7ENoI9
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