SA's Road To Rio: LJ and Irvette van Zyl

For one thing, they have become parents to baby Louis, who is now almost nine months old and who, by both athletes' own admission, has changed their outlook on life significantly.

Thirty-year-old LJ remains the South African 400 metre record holder and will be making his third attempt at adding an Olympic medal to his career haul, while Irvette has been focussing primarily on the marathon.

They won't have particularly fond memories to relate to young Louis about their London 2012 experience and hope 2016 will become the lingering memory for the Pretoria couple. Irvette failed to finish the Marathon in 2012 and LJ failed to get beyond the heats in the 400 hurdles.

While they won't be able to share quarters as a married couple in the Rio Olympic Village, they will certainly be sharing a sporting journey together that other couples would envy.

Exchanging loving looks and a wry smile, both LJ and Irvette acknowledge that not staying together in Rio is actually a massive plus-factor as far as remaining focussed is concerned. "There is a lot of stress at the Olympics and we just don't want to be in each other's stress zones, if I can put it that way," said Irvette.

Since emerging from her pregnancy and giving birth to Louis in September 2015, Irvette has built herself up gradually, remained injury-free and dominated over 10 and 20km's, with a very credible 15th place finish in April's London Marathon in 2:32:20.

"Being a Mom has changed me. Being out for a year just made me hungrier. I tend to take things as they come and don't stress as much as I used to," added Irvette.

With lessons learned in London in 2012, Irvette engaged Pretoria University High Performance Centre (HPC) coach Lindsay Parry in 2014, who she credits for coaching her back to optimum performance levels following a succession of injuries and her subsequent pregnancy.

"He really understands my body and how to train, " she says. " He never allows me to over-train so that there is no fatigue when I start running. We treated my comeback from pregnancy as if it were an injury; building up slowly, putting in the speed work and hill work and gunning for that Olympic spot."

There's an old cliche' that 'Birds of a feather flock together'. LJ's has been a similar story of revival as an athlete in 2016 after a barren patch which would have had most athletes hanging up their spikes.

LJ was groomed for success from a very young age and was a junior world champion at the age of 17 and by 2011, the SA record holder. Today he has three Commonwealth Games medals and two World Championship medals to his credit. He finished fifth in his maiden Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and will be competing in his third Olympics.

He experienced an alarming downward curve after his poor performance in London in 2012 and after putting in hard work with Coach Irma Reyneke at the HPC, he's now trying to consistently post sub-48 second times. 

"I couldn't go under 48 seconds in London 2012. I must admit that disappointment motivated me to do better. I know I can do better. I still need one more medal in my collection (Olympic) and I am working flat out," said LJ.

"At my age (31) I have come to realise that I have to run every race as if it were my last one," he added.

Of retirement talk, LJ says that may be a bit premature. "There is still the World Champs next year in London and the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast. Fitness and form permitting, I would like to go out with another Commonwealth medal in Australia. 

Irvette admits she is still a touch nervous running the Marathon. "After mostly taking on 10 and 20km's, I don't quite feel like a marathoner yet. There is always stress out there in a massive event like the Olympics, but I am learning gradually not to over-stress."

And advice to Louis and any siblings that may come along in the future?

"Hard work", says LJ, hard work. I will strive to teach my children and young people in general what it means to work hard as a professional both on and off the field or track. Train hard and train smart is my simple recipe."

Irvette has a more simplistic view: "Just don't overdo it when you are young. Keep it fun, then start taking it seriously. Nobody remembers a good junior. Just enjoy what you doing."

GET TO KNOW LJ AND IRVETTE

LJ VAN ZYL

Home Location: 

Pretoria

Years in your chosen sport? 

25 years

What got you started? 

Watching the 1992 Olympic Games. Started hurdles on our farm, jumping over sheep and feeding buckets

Biggest Accomplishment in Sport? 

2 medals at World Champs in Korea 2011 & SA record in the 400 hurdles.

Things you do in Training that are key to success? 

Speed training and explosive gym work.

What would be your ultimate achievement? 

An Olympic medal.

How do you set your goals? 

Discuss with my coach Irma. Often set my goals in a dream.

Biggest challenge & how do you manage it? 

Didn't run well for three years (2012-14) and struggled to break 49 secs. I watched my best races for three months every day before training.

What is your diet like? 

Lots of meat, try avoid bread (gluten products) and sugary drinks.

What differentiates you from your contemporaries who have tailed off in their athletics careers? 

Help from my coach Irma Reyneke and Hennie Kriel in the gym.

Do you have a saying or motto you live your life by? 

"Everything will be OK" and "I will make a plan"

Most treasured possession/s? 

My Hilux 4x4, king-sized bed and my spikes.

What do you eat for Breakfast? 

FutureLife cereal with milk.

My last meal would be? 

Steak and chips

Favourite Holiday Destination? 

Jefferey's Bay

How do you celebrate Christmas Day? 

Spitbraai

In the movie of my life I would be played by? 

Leonardo DiCaprio

Stranded on an Island, what are your essentials? 

Leatherman Knife

What would you buy with your Last R100? 

6 Buddy Cokes

IRVETTE VAN ZYL

Home Location: 

Pretoria

Years in Sport: 

15 years in athletics

What got you Started? 

My Godmother ran Comrades in 1991 and that got me started.

Biggest accomplishment in sport? 

2012 Olympic Games

Things you do in your training that are key to success? 

Strengthening exercises & run your easy runs so that your body recovers from the harder runs

What would be your ultimate achievement? 

To run SA Marathon record of 2:26

How do you set your goals? 

Short term goals are the key to long term success. Set shorter distance goals for longer distance success.

Biggest challenge & how do you manage it? 

Stress. But I try take things as they come.

What is your diet like? 

I eat a lot of carbs, like pasta, rice & potatoes. Often enjoy jelly sweets for treats.

What led to your breakthrough? 

Qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics

Best advice you were ever given? 

Just enjoy your running and be the best I can be.

Saying or motto you live your life by? 

To always have fun in training sessions.

Where do you draw your inspiration from? 

From my husband LJ. He always has a positive outlook on things and situations we find ourselves in.

Most treasured possession/s? 

Running shoes & Garmin running watch

What do you usually eat for breakfast? 

Coffee and rusks

Favourite holiday destination? 

LJ's family farm in the Eastern Cape

How do you celebrate Christmas Day? 

Eat as much trifle pudding as I can 

In the movie of my life I would be played by who? 

Cameron Diaz

Stranded on an Island, what are your three essentials? 

Surf Board, Oakley glasses, beach towel.

What would you buy with your last R100? 

Lip Ice, Wine Gums, Paper & towel.