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Cape Town – The new South African athletics season will see the welcome return of one of the country’s most promising athletes after an 18-month absence from competition.
Isabel Roux was one of South Africa’s brightest talents when she won the national championships in the 200m in 2009, but inexplicably, she vanished from the scene in 2010.
“I injured a nerve in my hip which lead to me not being able to really run properly again in 2010,” Le Roux said in Wednesday’s Die Burger.
“The main reason why I did not compete this year is because I changed coaches. Hennie Kotzé has been coaching me since March.
“Oom Hennie and I decided that it would be best if I did not compete at all so that my body can get a chance to adapt to the new training programme.”
Kotzé will want to guide Le Roux on her road back to victory and he firmly believes that it is well within her abilities.
“Isabel is definitely one of the most talented athletes in South Africa. She has virtually claimed every title in South Africa at age-group level and I do not for one moment doubt that she will become better,” said Kotzé.
“What gets me excited is that Isabel has really trained well. What’s even more important is that her head is right, that she is hungry to run once again.
“The plan is to try and qualify for the 200m again at the London Olympics next year.
“I would also want that she takes part in the 400m at some of the smaller meetings. She will no longer be competing in the 100m anymore.”
The first meeting of the South African athletics season takes place when the Yellow Pages Summer Series kicks off on December 8 in Port Elizabeth.
Le Roux will join the series when the second meet hits Oudtshoorn four days later.
She remained candid about her immediate prospects, even when asked about her new quest at the one-lap event.
“I don’t know if I am ready to run fast times yet. It will be interesting to see what state I am in at the moment. The 400m is a new challenge. I don’t know what to expect.”
Isabel Roux was one of South Africa’s brightest talents when she won the national championships in the 200m in 2009, but inexplicably, she vanished from the scene in 2010.
“I injured a nerve in my hip which lead to me not being able to really run properly again in 2010,” Le Roux said in Wednesday’s Die Burger.
“The main reason why I did not compete this year is because I changed coaches. Hennie Kotzé has been coaching me since March.
“Oom Hennie and I decided that it would be best if I did not compete at all so that my body can get a chance to adapt to the new training programme.”
Kotzé will want to guide Le Roux on her road back to victory and he firmly believes that it is well within her abilities.
“Isabel is definitely one of the most talented athletes in South Africa. She has virtually claimed every title in South Africa at age-group level and I do not for one moment doubt that she will become better,” said Kotzé.
“What gets me excited is that Isabel has really trained well. What’s even more important is that her head is right, that she is hungry to run once again.
“The plan is to try and qualify for the 200m again at the London Olympics next year.
“I would also want that she takes part in the 400m at some of the smaller meetings. She will no longer be competing in the 100m anymore.”
The first meeting of the South African athletics season takes place when the Yellow Pages Summer Series kicks off on December 8 in Port Elizabeth.
Le Roux will join the series when the second meet hits Oudtshoorn four days later.
She remained candid about her immediate prospects, even when asked about her new quest at the one-lap event.
“I don’t know if I am ready to run fast times yet. It will be interesting to see what state I am in at the moment. The 400m is a new challenge. I don’t know what to expect.”
