Rio de Janeiro - As the world’s best women javelin throwers edged closer to Sunette Viljoen’s leading mark in the Rio Olympics final, long-time coach Terseus Liebenberg had no doubt his charge would persevere.
Viljoen’s opening throw of 64.92 metres brought back memories of the 2012 London Games where she did the same in the final, only to see her grip on a bronze medal slip in the final round.
As each round progressed, Viljoen’s face reflected agony instead of the smile she wore after her first heave.
“No, I was not nervous. Sunette said to me before this competition she’s got this one, she’s in control and especially in control of her emotions, and I trusted her 100 percent,” said Liebenberg, who has been coaching Viljoen since she left school.
“The first throw was obviously a great opener and that put the pressure on the other women and, well, it was just an amazing competition in general.
“Any of the eight women in the final could have won the competition, but it was Sunette's night. Brilliant.”
Viljoen’s grip on the gold medal lasted for three rounds until Croatian Sara Kolak’s heave of 66.18m relegated Viljoen to silver, which she managed to hold onto for two more nerve-racking turns.
Both Liebenberg and Viljoen beamed when they saw each other for the first time after she had won the medal.
Liebenberg could not wipe the smile off his face as he looked at Viljoen like a proud parent.
Viljoen started her sporting career at the age of 14 when she was selected for South Africa’s women’s cricket team in 1998, appearing in a Test and One-Day Internationals.
She eventually ended up choosing athletics ahead of cricket, with her career path leading her to Liebenberg, who coached Marius Corbett, the 1997 world javelin title-holder. Although Corbett’s world title-winning throw ranked among Liebenberg’s greatest achievements, Viljoen’s Olympic silver medal conquest was special.
“Corbett won the World Championship in 1997. That was very special, but an Olympic medal is just in a class of its own,” Liebenberg said.
“This has to be the highlight, most definitely.”
Viljoen made her first senior debut as a wide-eyed 19-year-old at the 2003 IAAF World Championships in Paris.
Her Rio sojourn was her fourth appearance at the global showpiece after she made her debut in Athens 2004, where she was knocked out of the qualifying round with a best throw of 54.45m.
Viljoen has broken seven continental records since 2003, starting with a heave of 55.83m at the Student Sports Union Track and Field Athletics Championships in Potchefstroom in 2003.
The 19-year-old Viljoen’s javelin landed on 58.33m on her fifth throw for an African junior and senior record.
Nine years later she would set her last African record, with a world-leading heave of 69.35m going into the London 2012 Games.
Liebenberg said his charge with the sunny disposition has not changed much in the 14 years he has been coaching her.
“Sunette’s always been a happy girl, she’s very happy,” Liebenberg said.
“That makes a helluva difference - when you’re happy, train well, sleep well, perform well, and be happy for the next couple of years, nothing succeeds like success.”
Liebenberg paid tribute to Viljoen for the perseverance she had shown over the years, especially after she missed out on a medal in London by 38 centimetres.
“After the disappointment, with the fourth place, to come back fighting four years later to take silver, I take my hat off to that wonderful, wonderful lady. Brilliant,” Liebeberg said.
Saturday Star