Van der Wath shatters javelin record

Strydom van der Wath recently shattered his own personal best distance as well as the Namibian javelin throwing record with a new mark of 78,32 metres at the South African Athletics Championships in Potchefstroom.

The 23-year-old Van der Wath won a silver medal for his effort, which was more than six metres further than his previous personal best of 71,86m which he set at the Namibian National Championships last month. His effort also broke Hennis de Wet’s long-standing national record of 75,32 which was still set before Namibia’s independence in 1990.

Strydom’s father and coach, Wathie, said his son was ecstatic with the result.

“He was ecstatic and very surprised to break the record. He was aiming to beat his personal best but did not expect such a big throw. His performance has really motivated him and he is now determined to reach his dream of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games,” he said.

Wathie, who farms in the south of Namibia near Stampriet, said he had been coaching his son since his school days but it was now time that he got a professional coach.

“Strydom is hoping to qualify for the Rio Olympics but it’s difficult to train because he’s working with me here on the farm. I have helped him as much as I can, but he now needs a professional coach. I will continue to support him emotionally, physically and financially, but we need professional support if he is to realise his dream of qualifying for the Olympics,” Wathie said.

Strydom first made his mark internationally in 2009 when he won a silver medal at the African Junior Championships in Mauritius, while he competed at the Junior World Athletics Championships in Canada and the Commonwealth Youth Games in India the following year.

Wathie then applied for an IOC scholarship through the Namibia Olympic Committee, but an elbow injury put a halt to those plans.

“Strydom stretched the ligaments in his elbow which resulted in a growth in his socket while he couldn’t make his arm straight anymore. He first had an operation three years ago which was not completely successful so he had a second operation and now it has healed completely,” he said.

Strydom is still a way off the javelin qualifying standard for the 2016 Olympics of 83,00m but Wathie believes he can reach the mark with professional guidance and international competition.

“Strydom has the necessary ‘big match temperament’ because he always performs better under pressure. The athlete who beat him in Potchefstroom threw further than 80m, but he is a full-time professional javelin thrower with a personal coach and regularly competes overseas. If Strydom gets the same assistance I am sure he can qualify for Rio,” he said.

Wathie said he had once again applied for an IOC scholarship through the NOC and was hoping for a positive outcome.

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