Marioné Fourie’s Quest for World Championship Glory

Marioné-Fourie

In the city of Pretoria, a young student has shattered national records and set her sights on an extraordinary feat at the upcoming Athletics World Championships in Budapest.

When Marioné Fourie takes her position in the starting blocks for the 100m hurdles event at the World Championships in Budapest (taking place from Saturday, August 19th, to Sunday, August 27th), her primary objective is to secure a spot in the final.

If she achieves this, she’ll etch her name in history as the first South African female athlete to make it to the final in the short hurdles race. Her journey began when she finished fifth in the semifinals during last year’s World Championships in Eugene, USA, where she clocked an impressive 12.93 seconds, matching her personal best time.

Since then, much has changed. The sports science student from Tuks has undergone a remarkable transformation, significantly improving her speed. In July, she set a new South African record, completing the 100m hurdles in a blistering 12.55 seconds. Fourie’s unwavering confidence was evident as she had predicted this achievement back in April.

Her proficiency in hurdling is nothing short of remarkable, resulting in consistent performances. In South Africa, she typically recorded winning times between 13.01s and 12.98s, but she’s been even better in Europe, consistently clocking in at around 12.7 seconds.

Fourie finds herself ranked as the 12th fastest 100m hurdler. The USA’s Nia Ali holds the top spot with a remarkable time of 12.30 seconds.

Admitting to a case of pre-competition jitters, Fourie remains candid about her feelings. She says, “To be honest, I am more nervous before this World Championships than I was last year. I viewed last year as a learning experience. The difference now is that I have set myself a definite goal. That is to compete in the final. But in sports, you can never take anything for granted. I will have to be at my best.”

However, Fourie recognizes that a touch of nervousness can be beneficial, as it gets the adrenaline flowing. Her strategy is clear: focus solely on her race and control what she can. She emphasizes the importance of not overthinking, as each race presents unique challenges. Her plan is to take it one race at a time, giving her best in every moment.

According to Fourie, her peak performance comes after clearing the fourth hurdle when she reaches her top speed, which she can sustain until the finish. In preparation for the Worlds, she has worked diligently on improving her start and achieving a smoother transition over the first three hurdles.

In the world of sports, success is never guaranteed on paper or through statistical analysis alone. The true path to triumph lies in relentless hard work and determination. Yet, when examining the results of the 100m hurdles from the past two Olympic Games and the last three World Championships, Fourie stands a genuine chance of making it to the final and, perhaps, even clinching a medal. Particularly if she can come close to replicating her remarkable 12.55-second run, which would have secured silver in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, silver in the 2017 World Championships, and bronze in the 2021 Tokyo Games.