Miranda Coetzee hopes to make mark in upcoming Olympics: ‘I believe I am capable’
Motivated by making her late father proud, the 26-year-old 400m sprinter hopes to emulate some of the athletes that she looked up to at previous Olympics.
Miranda Coetzee. Picture: Wikimedia Commons
JOHANNESBURG - The road to the Olympic Games is different for every athlete. While some make it their lifelong mission to get there, others like South Africa’s Miranda Coetzee need only a few years to do it.
Motivated by making her late father proud, Coetzee hopes to make a name for herself at the upcoming Olympics.
ALSO READ:
- Rowing SA hopes trio of Olympic rowers return with medals to bolster its profile
- Snyman names 'really strong' Blitzboks squad for Olympic Games
- Rooskrantz, Simbine chosen as Team SA's flag bearers for Olympic Games
The 26-year-old 400m sprinter from Magaliesburg only took up running seriously in the months before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While her rise to the top has been quick, she has encountered hurdles on her way, such as the death of her biggest supporter, Johannes, in 2023.
Coetzee is using his memory as motivation, as she hopes to emulate some of the athletes that she looked up to at previous Olympics, like Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya.
“Seeing Wayde break the world record, seeing Caster Semenya - those were the people that inspired me,” she said.
“Even now when I watch their videos, it makes me so emotional, and I get an adrenaline rush. I also want to do it and I believe I am capable of doing it.”
The Olympic Games in Paris will get under way on 26 July.