The Tuks race walker, Wayne Snyman, seems like a good wine to get better with age. On Saturday in Muscat, the 36-year-old finished seventh during the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships.
He was the oldest athlete competing in the 20km race. Such statistics do not faze him. Age to him is only a limitation one puts on one’s mind.
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“In the past, there have been 36-year-old race walkers who won world titles. I have indeed become stronger with age. I proved it to myself with last year’s top twenty finish at the Tokyo Olympic Games. I now execute my race better because I focus on the small things that make a big difference.”
It is the first time in more than 20 years that a South African athlete has finished in the top ten at a World Team Championships. It was impressive to see how Snyman kept his cool from start to finish. Sticking to what worked for him.
After five kilometres, he was 23rd. At the 10km-marker, he was ninth. It was only over the last kilometre that he moved up to seventh. Japan’s Toshikazu Yamanishi won in 1:22:52. His compatriot, Kozi Ikeda, was second in 1:23:29 with Kenia’s Samuel Gathimba third in 1:23:52. Snyman finished at 1:25:39.
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