Tiaan Whelpton (2018), wat ‘n paar jaar gelede na Nieu-Seeland verhuis het, het al 10.09 sekondes in die 100m aangeteken. Geen wonder nie die Nieu-Seelandse rugbykeurders het hul nasionale 100m-kampioen se talente en vaart raakgesien en hom genader om by die All Blacks se sewes-program betrokke te raak.
Volgens die aanlynblad Stuff.co.nz sluit hy nie so ‘n moontlikheid uit in die toekoms nie, maar hy wil eers nog groter hoogtes as atleet bereik.
“I used to be more of a rugby player growing up. I played at a pretty high level in both England and South Africa, and went to one of the biggest rugby schools in the world, in Paul Roos Gymnasium Stellenbosch.
“There’s certainly a lot of rugby there. My dad was a rugby player himself, and I’ve spoken to some guys at New Zealand sevens. My heart lies in athletics and I’m going to take that as far as I can.
“Who knows? Maybe once I’m done with athletics, once I’ve broken the 10-second barrier, maybe I could be the first sub-10 rugby player.”
