Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them, according to William Shakespeare.
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.
“We had a nice blend of youth and experience. We gave probably the two toughest legs to the youngest athletes, Leendert Koekemoer and Udeme (Okon).”
Koekemoer would have been forgiven for just going through the motions.
After all, he was a late injury replacement for his training partner, Olympian Lythe Pillay. He had featured in the 4x400m mixed relay team at the World Relays.
However, he showed that he is made of sterner stuff in overhauling Kabo Rankgwe of Botswana on the third leg, before giving Nene the “easy” task of taking the team home.
The SA Under-20 record holder over the distance registered an incredibly impressive split time of 44.23, especially for someone who had struggled to break through the 46-second barrier until this year.
A torn hamstring also restricted the Helpmekaar Kollege, Johannesburg pupil to one race last year.
World Under-20 champion Okon’s split time was an equally impressive 44.24 to leave SA second at the final change-over.
“What was going through my mind was to catch that Botswana guy in front of me… I knew he blasted out superfast, so I knew that I could catch him if I just stayed patient and kicked at the right time,” the youngest member of the SA team Koekemoer said, recalling last Sunday’s final.
“At the end of the day, I don’t think I went out to the relay to run a fast time, necessarily.
“I think I just wanted to get the baton first to Zak (Nene). I think it was just for the team, so we could get a medal. The time came by itself.”
The 17-year-old, who was taking part in his first overseas competition, struggled to explain the reason for the breakthrough performance.
“I feel like if it wasn’t for my parents, my coach and my teammate Lythe Pillay pushing me at training, I wouldn’t have been performing how I am performing today,” Koekemoer said.
“If it also wasn’t for me pushing myself to be better every day, I feel that I wouldn’t have run that time.”
He also acknowledges the mental aspect of the one-lap sprint.
“The crucial thing for me this season is to keep my head in the game. I feel like the 400 is a very mental race, and you must know the lactic is going to come at the end.
“So, I think if your mind is right, you can run fast.”
With the likes of Koekemoer and Okon already being world relay champions this early in their careers, and Nene, Pillay and the other established stars there to guide them, South Africa will be hard to catch for years to come.
Greatness beckons!
