Koekemoer seeking to extend South African 400m dynasty

Leendert Koekemoer has spent some of his most formative years competing alongside senior athletes with Olympic medals, world titles and years of experience. Now, at the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26, the South African 400m talent has the chance to “experience being a kid with everyone else”.

But while Koekemoer is enjoying the opportunity to compete among his peers, he has arrived in Eugene with one clear objective: to win.

Koekemoer entered this week’s championships as the first South African U20 athlete to break 45 seconds for 400m, lowering his own national U20 record to 44.94 in April.

The 19-year-old also already has a senior World Championships medal to his name. At the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, he ran in the heats of the men’s 4x400m, helping South Africa reach the final before the team went on to claim bronze.

During the pre-event press conference in Oregon, Koekemoer was asked what value he still finds in U20 competition after already racing on the senior international stage.

“For me, junior championships is basically where I compete with people my age, which I think is very important because from a young age I’ve been competing with the seniors,” Koekemoer said. “This means a lot. It’s where I can experience being a kid with everyone else.”

That senior experience has also helped to ease some of the nerves that might otherwise accompany his first individual global championships.

“I think that’s why my stress levels are not that high as they would be at a senior championship,” he said.

In Oregon, Koekemoer is surrounded by athletes his own age, but much of his preparation has been shaped by his experiences alongside South Africa’s senior stars. He has been able to draw on advice from the likes of 2016 Olympic 400m champion and world record-holder Wayde van Niekerk, Olympic 4x100m silver medallist Akani Simbine and world 4x400m bronze medallist Zakithi Nene.

Perhaps the most relevant guidance, however, has come from two athletes who know exactly what it takes to win the world U20 400m title.

Lythe Pillay won in Cali in 2022 and Udeme Okon continued South Africa’s success in Lima two years later. Both are now among Koekemoer’s training partners, meaning victory in Eugene would complete a remarkable sequence: three successive world U20 400m champions emerging from the same training environment.

Training alongside athletes who have prepared for the same championship, dealt with the same pressures and ultimately stood on top of the same podium he is now targeting has been a source of inspiration and assistance for Koekemoer.

“They’ve definitely given me a lot of advice on how to go into the race and what to expect.”

The connection between the trio already extends beyond the training track. Pillay, Okon and Koekemoer were all part of the South African 4x400m team at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, where Koekemoer helped the team through the heats before South Africa went on to claim bronze.

At the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 in May, the trio helped South Africa secure qualification for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27. Koekemoer ran the third leg in the final as South Africa finished second behind hosts Botswana, clocking a national record of 2:55.07.

His relay experiences have taught Koekemoer how to perform on the global stage as part of a team. In Oregon, the challenge is different: turning those lessons into an individual title.

He made a comfortable start to his campaign, winning his first-round heat in 45.75 – the third-fastest time overall and just 0.01 behind US rival Quincy Wilson.

Koekemoer then stepped things up in the semi-finals later that day with 45.18, progressing to the final as the second-fastest qualifier behind Wilson.

“Of course I want to win,” he said. “Everyone wants to win. I didn’t come here to get second place. I came here to get first place.”

Morgan Hoopes for the World Athletics Media Academy