By VUYOKAZI NKANJENI
East London-based star athlete Lusapho April will be chasing gold at the Rio Olympics this month saying he will not be there to just make up the numbers.
The Olympics start this weekend but April’s marathon (42km) event is only on August 21 and he is determined to improve on his previous effort in 2012.
This is April’s second Olympic Games after the Uitenhage-born star recorded a 43rd placing in London four years ago.
April, who will be running against other fellow South African athletes like Stephen Mokoka, Sibusiso Nzima and Lungile Gongqa, says he cannot wait to spring into action.
“I hope it is going to be awesome. You know Brazil and the festivities up there, so I am hoping we will have a good one,” April said.
“It’s a championship race so anyone stands a good chance of winning the race. So I am not even worried about the other competitors.
“I am just worried about myself, what I will do on the day of the race and how my body responds on the day.”
The 34-year-old won the Hannover Marathon in Germany, for the third time this year after having won it in 2011 and 2013.
Although people will be expecting much from him in Rio, April says he is not under any pressure to perform.
“I know what I am capable of doing,” he said.
“What matters to me the most is the fact that I will give it my best. If my best ends up being a medal, then that is good for me and the country.
“Even if I finish in 10th place, for me I will still be happy. But, I am not going there for a top 10 finish, I am going there to get the medal.
“But if things don’t go according to my plan and something else comes up, I will just have to except the consequences of that.”
The two-time Two Oceans Marathon winner recently took part in the NMB SA Half Marathon on Saturday, which was his last race before the big one.
Despite finishing in eighth place, April said he was happy with his overall performance.
“The preparations are going well. I am healthy and injury free. This was the last race before the big one,” April said.
“I wanted to win but things did not go according to plan. The Kenyan guy who won made the race so tough for us.
“To run hard from the start – I did not come here thinking I was going to do that. But I am happy of the performance overall. It shows that I am ready for Rio because I ran a 62 minutes.”
April leaves for Brazil next Tuesday.
Upbeat runner April determined to strike gold
East London-based star athlete Lusapho April will be chasing gold at the Rio Olympics this month saying he will not be there to just make up the numbers.
The Olympics start this weekend but April’s marathon (42km) event is only on August 21 and he is determined to improve on his previous effort in 2012.
This is April’s second Olympic Games after the Uitenhage-born star recorded a 43rd placing in London four years ago.
April, who will be running against other fellow South African athletes like Stephen Mokoka, Sibusiso Nzima and Lungile Gongqa, says he cannot wait to spring into action.
“I hope it is going to be awesome. You know Brazil and the festivities up there, so I am hoping we will have a good one,” April said.
“It’s a championship race so anyone stands a good chance of winning the race. So I am not even worried about the other competitors.
“I am just worried about myself, what I will do on the day of the race and how my body responds on the day.”
The 34-year-old won the Hannover Marathon in Germany, for the third time this year after having won it in 2011 and 2013.
Although people will be expecting much from him in Rio, April says he is not under any pressure to perform.
“I know what I am capable of doing,” he said.
“What matters to me the most is the fact that I will give it my best. If my best ends up being a medal, then that is good for me and the country.
“Even if I finish in 10th place, for me I will still be happy. But, I am not going there for a top 10 finish, I am going there to get the medal.
“But if things don’t go according to my plan and something else comes up, I will just have to except the consequences of that.”
The two-time Two Oceans Marathon winner recently took part in the NMB SA Half Marathon on Saturday, which was his last race before the big one.
Despite finishing in eighth place, April said he was happy with his overall performance.
“The preparations are going well. I am healthy and injury free. This was the last race before the big one,” April said.
“I wanted to win but things did not go according to plan. The Kenyan guy who won made the race so tough for us.
“To run hard from the start – I did not come here thinking I was going to do that. But I am happy of the performance overall. It shows that I am ready for Rio because I ran a 62 minutes.”
April leaves for Brazil next Tuesday.
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