Hard work paying off for SA 10,000m record holder Adrian Wildschutt
South African athlete Adrian Wildschutt broke the 24-year-old national 10,000m record earlier in May while competing at the Track Fest meeting in Los Angeles. The 25-year-old talks about life in the US and his formula for success.
South African athlete Adrian Wildschutt. Picture: Jan Figueroa/@CitiusMag.
JOHANNESBURG – South African athlete Adrian Wildschutt broke the 24-year-old national 10,000m record earlier in May while competing at the Track Fest meeting in Los Angeles.
“Well, it is great to know that I have written myself into the history books of South African athletics. It has always been a dream, and knowing that my hard paid off in such an amazing way is joyful,” said Adrian Wildschutt to Eyewitness News.
The United States-based athlete won the race in a time of 27:23.10, breaking Hendrick Ramaala's record of 27:29.94, which was set in Port Elizabeth back in 1999.
Eyewitness News caught up with the athlete to talk about his journey and the lessons he’s learnt so far in his track career.
“The track scene in the US is very much different from what I was used to in SA. It is way more competitive, in the sense that we have a handful of really good athletes in SA, whereas there are hundreds of good athletes over here, meaning myself and many other South Africans over here really needed to work really hard simply just to qualify for the championships.”
The athlete holds an MBA (Masters in Business) from Florida State University and says his older brother got him into athletics when he was in grade 10.
“He was the one that always competed in cross-country and track. One day I was bored at home, done with my schoolwork, and didn’t know what to do. I decided to go with him to training, and it was very hard but exciting at the same time. I have never looked back since.”
The athlete born in Ceres in the Western Cape soon followed his brother Nadeel Wildschutt to Coastal Carolina University, where they're coached by fellow South African, Zola (Budd) Pieterse.
“My brother was recruited by Zola Budd, who at the time was the head cross-country coach at Coastal Carolina University. Six months later I was recruited as well by Zola Budd and joined my brother and three years later I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Business from the aforementioned university.”
The 25-year-old, recruited by HOKA NAZ Elite in 2022, tells Eyewitness News that the funding makes the track scene in the USA so hugely different to SA.
“In the USA, the universities are very wealthy and almost have unlimited money to provide all the necessary requirements in order to perform at your very best. However, I can say that we can certainly invest more money into athletics, and try and keep young athletes competing in cross-country and track instead of the roads, which also brings another issue.”
Wildschutt points out that the lack of funding means SA loses out on talent.
“In SA a lot of young athletes don’t have money, and compete in road races to earn some, which deters their future potential. I can’t really judge them, because I was in the same position before moving to the USA in 2018.”
The athlete, who finished fifth at the Commonwealth Games and currently ranks 17th in the world, hopes to move up the ranks into the top 10.
"I have always admired people with an immense work ethic. It’s one thing to be talented, but working hard makes you better, more disciplined and ultimately more successful. So, my advice would be to those who look up to me, is to work hard. Not just in athletics but in all facets of life."