Not that they’ve been sitting around twiddling their thumbs for the past few years, but for athletes chasing an Olympic medal in Paris next year, the real development starts now. Fortunately for those with podium ambitions, athletes in South Africa’s most popular Olympic code don’t have to rely entirely on domestic competition to prepare, with the top international event on this year’s calendar offering a real chance to test themselves in the event. the highest level. Also read: SA swimmers can make a splash at Paris Olympics Impressive but unstable sprint relay track squad will …
Not that they’ve been sitting around twiddling their thumbs for the past few years, but for athletes chasing an Olympic medal in Paris next year, the real development starts now.
Fortunately for those with podium ambitions, athletes in South Africa’s most popular Olympic code don’t have to rely entirely on domestic competition to prepare, with the top international event on this year’s calendar offering a real chance to test themselves in the event. the highest level.
READ ALSO: SA swimmers could make a splash at the Paris Olympics
An excellent but also unstable sprint relay track squad will have a crucial opportunity to overcome some problems at the World Athletics Relays which will be held in Budapest between 13-14 May.
World Championship
And the rest of SA’s struggling athletics team will get their own chance to build some confidence when the World Athletics Championships are held in Budapest between August 19-27.
If they can win the title and gain entry to the top flight series, the track and field athlete will also be able to compete in the Diamond League circuit, which has seen a lack of South African participants in recent years but will be key for anyone. looking to gain valuable experience ahead of the Paris Games. The series will include 14 meetings around the world between May and September.
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In addition, for triathletes, there will be a full international season featuring the World Triathlon Championship Series to help athletes prepare for the Olympic pit, closing in the final of the campaign to be held in Pontevedre between 23-24 September.
Swimmers will not have enough as many opportunities to test the initial form as part of the long-term build-up to a multi-sport showpiece, but they will also have the opportunity to compare themselves against the biggest opponents from around the world when. they are out at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka between July 14-30.
The International Cycling Union has taken a different approach this year, but it will not have a negative effect on cyclists, with the global championship combining all disciplines (road, mountain and track) into one event for the first time.
All disciplines will be contested at the Cycling World Championships to be held in Glasgow between August 3-13.
The final test
So some athletes will have more opportunities to test themselves than others, and anyone hoping to take that opportunity needs the resources and support they need to get overseas.
But none of South Africa’s medal hopes should go into the Olympic year untested, with their card trials in each major code giving them the chance to ensure they are on the right track ahead of next year’s spectacle. Last chance to review what works in your training program and get rid of what doesn’t.
And if he wants to be ready for Paris, he needs to put most of that work in the bag this year while he can. Next year everything will be sharpened, and all tests and experiments should be completed by then.