Home » Wayde Van Niekerk On His Way Home with Akani Simbine to Heroes’ Welcome

Wayde Van Niekerk On His Way Home with Akani Simbine to Heroes’ Welcome

South Africa’s world record-breaking athlete Wayde van Niekerk, his coach Ans Botha, and fellow Olympic athlete Akani Simbine are arriving back in South Africa Wednesday morning! If you’d like to be there to welcome the Olympic heroes, they’re on flight AF990 which is due to touch down at OR Tambo International Airport at 09h55. It’s […]

By SAPeople
07-09-16 00:06
in Fab South African Stuff

South Africa’s world record-breaking athlete Wayde van Niekerk, his coach Ans Botha, and fellow Olympic athlete Akani Simbine are arriving back in South Africa Wednesday morning!

If you’d like to be there to welcome the Olympic heroes, they’re on flight AF990 which is due to touch down at OR Tambo International Airport at 09h55.

It’s been a couple of weeks since Wayde set a new world record at the Rio Olympics, winning gold in the men’s 400 metres race.

And he’s been missing home. A week ago he tweeted that he was “counting down the days.”

The superfast athlete, who started life as a premature baby (and whose love and appreciation for his mom is so sweet – see the tweets below), has been proudly representing South Africa abroad.

“I’m proud of my history and skin colour,” he said in one message, “but even prouder for being a South African ambassador.”

When an overseas fan asked what South Africa is like, Wayde tweeted: “It’s the best place bro.”

Whilst in Europe, he and Akani – both humble South African heroes – have been sharing “brotherly” tweets too.

In one Wayde said “I’m proud of you my brother… you a real example.” Akani said “thanks my bro. Just trying to be like you” to which Wayde said “There’s no difference in us – you a boss – we know your name boy… AKANI SIMBINE.”

Here are some more of their tweets in the past few days:

https://twitter.com/olympicgold99/status/773175060387463168