Edmund du Plessis will face his biggest challenge as an 800-metre athlete tomorrow after 12:00 when he lines up to race in the heats at the Paris Olympic Games.
The Tuks medical student is under no illusions as to what awaits him.
“I will have to run as I have never done before. In all probability, I will have to improve on my personal best time of 1:44.22 to progress to the semifinals. Therefore, I will run as if I am running a final. The most important thing I have learned this season racing in Europe is to back myself. Ever so often, when you look at the startlist, it seems there is no way you could win. But when the race starts, you realise you are racing athletes, not superhumans,” the South African champion explained.
Fast . . . faster . . . fastest would be a perfect way to summarise Du Plessis’s heroics on the track this season. Since last year’s end, he has improved his time by nearly three seconds. As things stand, he is now fifth on South Africa’s all-time list in the 800 metres. Only Hezekiel Sepeng (1:42.69 – 1999), Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1:42.86 – 2009), Johan Botha (1:43.91 – 1999) and Werner Botha (1:44.41 – 2000) have been faster.
But there is no getting away from the fact that Du Plessis is still green when it comes to racing internationally.
On asked what his advice for Du Plessis would be as a first-time Olympian, Andre Olivier, a World Indoors 800m finalist and Commonwealth Games medallist, said, “I would like to start saying kudos to Edmund for qualifying for the Games. To be able to run 1:44.70 took some doing.
“As to competing. Run as if it is your last Olympic Games. Don’t bank on it that you will get to compete at another Olympics. A lot can happen in four years. I would know. Edmund should also note that championship racing is different. There are no pacemakers. You are racing on your own.
“Edmund should also take to heart that the playing field is level on race day. It does not matter who ran a 1:42 or a 1:43 race or who the top-ranked runners are. Run your own race. Take it one race at a time. The first goal is to qualify for the semis. If you do, the focus should be racing to the final. And as everyone knows, anything can happen in a final.”
Johan Cronje, who won bronze in the 1500 metres during the 2013 World Champs in Moscow, advised Edmund to race as if he has nothing to lose and all to win. Yes, there is always a risk of making a mistake in a race, but still, Edmund should be confident to roll the dice when running.
”The most important thing I have learned as a middle-distance runner is to bide your time until the business end of the race. It is usually the last 200 to 300 metres. Until then, all Edmund needs to do is to defend the position he gained after the start. He should realise that it does not matter who is ahead of him. You are not losing the race. Stay calm and save your energy for that last final sprint.
“There will be athletes who are under real pressure to perform. So Edmund should stay relaxed. An athlete’s mental health is sometimes more critical than physical prowess. Lastly, he should learn as much as possible from his Olympic experience.”