Tshepo Tshite determined to make it to Olympic Games final

Tshite and Ryan Mphahlele will kick off Team South Africa’s athletics proceedings in the heats at 11:05 at the Stade de France on Friday morning. 

Tshite says he will be pleased if he can get through the preliminary rounds to reach the final, which is scheduled for 6 August at 20:51.

"I'm not nervous, I'm excited. I believe my dream is going to come true because, if you remember, my dream so far is all about getting into the finals – nothing more," said Tshite.

"Because I know once I go to the finals, everything is possible, especially when it comes to major championships, you can't predict who's going to win."

Tshite is fortunate to have his idol Hezekial, and coach Samuel Sepeng, as the middle-distance mentors for Team South Africa at the Olympics. 

He hopes the brothers will guide him in honing his focus and preparing for the most significant event of his career.

"I'd say he's very special because running, especially in Europe, is done without a coach. So having him [Hezekial] at the Olympics is going to play a big role in our performance," he added.

"So I'm really happy to have him, because he'll be there. Most athletes, a day before the race, we become nervous, so imagine if you are alone.

"If you have a coach, that [helps]. I think the coach knows me better than I know myself  – he knows, if the guy is nervous, how to cool him down, so having him and his brother here, it's a privilege for us, especially for myself and Prudence [Sekgodiso]."

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