Golden Girl switches focus to World Champs

Viljoen won University Sport South Africa’s (USSA) first gold medal in the women’s 400m final ahead of US athlete Britanny Perry and Barbora Malikova of Czech Republic. Viljoen has no time to recover with the World Championships later this month in Hungary’s Budapest. 

"I will be going, most probably, to the world champs via the world ranking system. I'm just waiting for the final team to come out, so hopefully. But, yes, this was great preparation for that, just to get the nerves out and then go to a bigger stage, this helps a lot", she told SABC Sport. 

"I've had a really good season, this has been a breakthrough season for me. I've run times that I never thought I could run, so for me to come here, and win gold, at the beginning of the year that was not even in my mindset. I just wanted to qualify for the world university championship. So for me, this season has been an eye opener and just motivation for next year," she continued.

The marketing management student at the University of Pretoria (UP) did not have an easy race to the gold medal; her competitors made her sweat, but she beat them in a photo finish.

The 23-year-old has spent most of her time in the European summer season, competing in a number of races. And said the weather also played a role in that decision.

"It's difficult for us South Africans because we have to peak at the beginning of the year, in the European summer as well. So, I went to Europe for four weeks. It was tough, and the buildup to this was quite tough, but it is for everyone. It's not just an easy route, I had a few niggle. 

"But if you want to run on the world stage you need to have races and preparation for this. It's difficult to come out of winter in South Africa and then compete in the summer, your first race is quite tough. So I think the European season was a necessity for me to be able to win the gold medal today." 

Unfortunately, the ladies will not have a relay team at the World Championships in Hungary, unlike the men, who will be led by record holder Wayde van Niekerk. Viljoen hopes Athletics South Africa will rectify this before the Olympics next year.

"Our 4x400 women's relay team missed out on the qualification, we fell out of the rankings. But I think if we focus on it next year, we will definitely be contenders for the Olympic Games in Paris. I think South Africa must make that a focus. We have strong 400m athletes and I think we could do very well."