ATHLETICS NEWS - Sunette Viljoen proved on Saturday at Pilditch, with her throw of 61.64m, that there is no keeping a real champion down.
It was the first time she competed in a javelin competition since July last year. Understandably she is quite excited to be back on the field doing what she loves most, which is launching a javelin to the best of her ability and seeing it soaring high and far.
For the last two years, Viljoen has been plagued by injuries. In 2017 she missed competing at the World Championships due to a back injury. Last year her campaign started off promisingly when she won a bronze medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, but unfortunately before the inaugural World Cup in London she was again sidelined with an injury.
A lesser athlete might have decided enough is enough and Viljoen would have just reason to quit. At 35 years of age, the Tuks athlete can genuinely claim to have been there, done that and got the T-shirt to prove it.
She won a silver at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and silver and bronze at the respective 2011 and 2015 World Championships. She has also won four medals at the Commonwealth Games. Her best throw of 69.35m places her sixth on the IAAF ranking-list.
However, she makes it clear that she still has some unfinished business on the track.
“I would love to win gold at the Olympic Games as well as having a real goal at Barbora Spotakova's (Czech Republic) world record of 72.28 metres,” explained the Tuks athlete who certainly does not lack in motivation.
