Perfect time for Wayde to make the perfect mark

Wayde van Niekerk used to pretend he was a famous Brazilian soccer player like Ronaldinho or Ronaldo.

But the 400m world champion will need to be Wayde van Niekerk when he opens his campaign for Olympic glory at the Rio Games on the first day of the track and field competition today.

The only South Africans in medal events today will be 20km race-walkers Lebo Shange and Wayne Snyman, and Dominique Scott in the women’s

10 000m.

Van Niekerk, a soccer fan, competes in the first round of the 400m tonight (2.05am tomorrow) saying he is chuffed to be in this football-mad country.

“I’m a crazy Brazilian football fan and I think since I was a youngster I thought I was Ronaldinho and Ronaldo and all those guys so it was always something that was in my heart.

“But now I’ve got the opportunity to represent my country right here in Brazil and why not make the most of it before I go out and see Brazil in a lighter way?”

First, however, there’s the business of sprinting, lactic acid, pain and hopefully success in what could be one of the most competitive events on the athletics schedule.

His main rivals remain London 2012 champion Kirani James of Grenada and Beijing 2008 king LaShawn Merritt of the US.

The 400m final is on Sunday night (3am Monday SA time), shortly before the men’s 100m decider (3.25am).

In his build-up to the world championships last year, Van Niekerk had clocked a sub-44-second 400m and he’d gone under 20 seconds in the 200m.

This year he hasn’t, although he is still unbeaten, having downed Merritt in a one-off 300m race in Jamaica.

Van Niekerk, a deeply religious figure, is confident he will go sub-44 again.

“I allowed God to take control and I’m just going to leave it in the Lord’s hands and I’m sure that sub will come again.

“I mean, I’ve done it once before so it shouldn’t be a problem to do it again so I’m just waiting for that opportunity – perfect day and perfect health and then it will happen.”

But he’s always looking to go faster.

“As an athlete, what I’ve already achieved, I always want more,” added the runner, who is bringing over 10 family members to Rio.

“I made sure that I sorted eight of my family members out, but I heard there’s 10 of them coming now.

“They made sure they joined the trip and so on. It’s amazing having my family here.

“I mean, if I had to think about it a few years ago – or even last year – we couldn’t afford something like that and now I have 10 family members joining me.”

Van Niekerk is number three in the world behind Merritt, the only runner to have dipped below 44 so far this season, and James. But he isn’t putting much weight on the rankings.

“Each and everyone knows who the guys are to watch out for …

“We know the guys who are out there for the medals, but there’s always a surprise package. I mean last year I was the surprise package, so I won’t take anyone else for granted.”

Hopefully he’ll make Brazilians want to be like Wayde van Niekerk.