Johannesburg – Lythe Pillay still can’t quite believe it. Just days after sprinting into the history books alongside his boyhood idol, Wade van Niekerk, at the World Athletics Championhips in Japan, the 22-year-old was back on the streets of the City of Gold.
This time the youngster from Benoni was not chasing medals but cheering on his girlfriend, at the sold-out Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K, where 14,400 runners painted the city in a sea of red dripping with sweat and determination on Heritage Day.
And yet, even among the roar of the crowd, his mind kept drifting back to Tokyo, where South Africa’s men’s 4x400m team claimed a hard-earned bronze in slippery, rainy conditions.
“It was a huge honour and proud moment winning a medal with my childhood hero Wayde van Niekerk in the 4x400m relay with Team SA at the World Athletics Championships,” Pillay reflected, his voice still carrying the adrenaline of that night.
For Pillay, Van Niekerk wasn’t just part of the relay quartet that won a bronze, he was the spark that lit the fire many years ago.
“I was in Grade 7, about 12 or 13 years old, when Wayde (43:03) obliterated the (legendary Michael Johnson’s 400m) world record in Rio in 2016.
“I remember thinking the Americans had it in the bag, and suddenly this guy from South Africa blitzes the field and rewrites history. Seeing that made me believe I could do it too.”
That belief carried him all the way to Tokyo, where the baton passed between Pillay, Udeme Okon, Van Niekerk and Zakithi Nene like a golden thread weaving together past and future. Their 2:57.83 run was as a symbol that South Africa’s 400m well has not run dry.
Wayde van Niekerk literally and figuratively passes the baton to Lythe Pillay Photo: Instagram
“The word I like to use is inflation,” Pillay smiled.
“Wayde’s run caused an inflation of talent in South Africa. We’ve got sub-45 guys popping up everywhere. And I could be mistaken, but I think we had the youngest team in the field. That gives us hope. Once Wayde retires, we’ll still be in a good space.”
Now firmly stepping out of junior shadows, Pillay sees himself as part of a new wave ready to keep South Africa’s one-lap tradition alive.
“We’ve got a healthy stream of senior and junior athletes. A lot of us are here because of what Wayde did. He set the bar, and now we’re chasing it.”
But while his spikes dig deep into the tartan, Pillay also finds joy in stepping off the track. Watching the thousands stream through Johannesburg’s streets in the popular mass participation of races throughout the country gave him fresh appreciation for endurance athletes.
“I enjoy all sports, and it was awesome just coming out to see a different crowd and perspective. I can’t run far to save my life,” he laughed, “so I really marvel at the athletes here.
“It’s such a great vibe seeing runners share their experiences. I’m just glad to be part of it.”
For Pillay, the path ahead is clear: Van Niekerk may have carved the lane with lightning in Rio, but it’s now being filled by a new generation running in his slipstream.
And Pillay, with a medal already in hand, is no longer just chasing his hero, he’s sprinting alongside him.
