SA hurdler Marione Fourie can't wait to make her mark at the Olympics
The 2023 Athletics South Africa (ASA) Female Athlete of the Year hopes to break into the finals in Paris.
South African hurdler Marione Fourie. Picture: marionefourie/Instagram.
JOHANNESBURG - South African 100m hurdler Marione Fourie is in Paris ahead of her Olympic debut.
"I'm really excited and can't wait to compete," said Fourie to EWN.
The 2023 Athletics South Africa (ASA) Female Athlete of the Year hopes to break into the finals in Paris.
"I was in grade 4 when I was invited to go and train at a coach and then only after a few months of training, I had my first nationals and then came second," said Fourie of her beginning in the discipline.
The first-time Olympian qualified for Paris when she set a national record and became the third-fastest African in the 100m hurdles behind Nigerians Tobi Amusan and Glory Alozie by clocking 12.55 in La-Chaux-de Fonds, Switzerland in July 2023.
"The thing about hurdles is that anything can happen at any time, so you have to keep your focus all the time."
READ: With sights set on Budapest23, Fourie hopes to see more women hurdlers competing
In July 2024, she improved her national record to 12.49 in Hengelo, Netherlands, her fastest season opener ever.
The Tuks sports science student said that she relaxes ahead of her competitions by watching Netflix or reading a book.
"I do not do anything in particular ahead of a race. I just focus on my race."
Fourie is a two-time World Championships semifinalist (2022, 2023), 2024 African Championships silver medallist and four-time National champion.
"I just want to say thank you to everyone that’s watching and thank you for the support."
