PHORA Thapelo

World Athletics Championships

Year	Location	400m	4 x 400m
2019	Doha, QAT	SF (45.24)	Heats (3:02.06)

African Games

Year	Location	400m	4 x 400m
2019	Rabat, MAR	2nd (45.59)	2nd (3:03.18)

African Championships

Year	Location	400m	4 x 400m
2018	Asaba, NGR	2nd (45.14)	2nd (3:03.50)

World Challenge - Ten best performances since 2020

Rank	Year	Event	Competition	Location	Result
4	2019	400m	World Challenge	Ostrava, CZE	46.14
5	2019	400m	World Challenge	Hengelo, NED	45.94

Legend
SF - Semifinal, QF - Quarterfinal, 1R - 1st Round, Qual. - Qualification, QR - Qualification Round, DNF - Did Not Finish, DNS - Did Not Start, DQ - Disqualified, NM - No Mark, [Relay athlete without time] - Did not run in final

Athlete

University of Pretoria, South Africa

One daughter [2014]

English

University of Pretoria [South Africa]

Nico van Heerden [club]

He joined the University of Pretoria Athletics Club in 2014 after losing a bet racing. "I remember my mum sent me to the shop and I met this other guy, who was the fastest guy in Mamelodi. He told me he wanted to compete with me for a bet. He beat me, he took my mum's 20 rand and when I got home I got a hiding. Since then I got motivated, I was like, 'No man, I need to find a club'. Someone gave me advice to go to Hatfield, for the Tuks." (Facebook profile, 07 Jan 2021)

"I love running because of the discipline and the hard work you put in, you learn a lot of things. It's not like soccer or rugby where you need teamwork. Running teaches you to stay disciplined and go for whatever you want because it's an individual sport." (Facebook profile, 07 Jan 2021)

To compete in the 400m final at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (Facebook profile, 07 Jan 2021)

Making the semifinal at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar. (Facebook profile, 07 Jan 2021)

South African sprinter Wayde van Niekerk. (sowetanlive.co.za, 14 Oct 2020)