The South African 400m-hurdles champion, Lindsay Hanekom (Tuks), thought he knew what it is like to experience the ultimate adrenaline rush. Still, when he got to pull the trigger of a rifle on a farm outside Vrede, everything changed. 

With the sound of the gunshot still ringing in his ears, he saw a blesbok ewe going down. His emotions ran wild. Simultaneously he was feeling sad as well as elated. He had killed, but at the same time, he also experienced the thrill of a hunt. It is a memory during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown he will treasure forever.

"I had the privilege to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games and last year's World Championships. Getting to settle in my starting blocks in front of thousands of spectators is the ultimate rush. There is nothing that could surpass that, or so I thought. I was wrong. To become a hunter is equally as big a thrill if not more." 

The Tuks-athlete has, however, not lost sight of what really matters. His aim is still to establish himself as a world-class hurdler. He had a lot of time to reflect on what he needs to do while being "locked down" between four walls during the first few weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. The conclusion is simple.  

"I got to become much faster. A 'high' 48 seconds is not going to cut it international athletics. Last year we had two athletes dipping under 47 seconds in the 400m-hurdles with another dipping under 48 seconds. Another seven ran times faster than 48.50s. It is exciting times to be a hurdler."

During last year's South African Championships in Germiston Hanekom set a new personal best when he won the 400m-hurdles in a time of 48.82s. He ended the season being one of the 20th fastest in the world. 

One of the reasons Hanekom is confident about being faster next year is because his training partner at Tuks is Sokwakhana Zazini, a former youth, and junior world champion as well as a world record holder. 

"There is a healthy rivalry between us, but it will never get bitter. Firstly we are friends. It only changes that few seconds when we are racing. I want to beat 'Socks' and vice versa. Whoever wins is the best man on the day. For the loser, it is a case of going back to the 'drawing board'.

"The reason I love racing against 'Socks' is because of his tenacity. He truly wants to be the best every time he race. It is a given that if I can stick with him that it is going to be a fast time. We are in agreement that the onus is on us to revive South Africa's proud legacy in the 400m-hurdles. The challenge is to see who is going to be first to be faster than the 47.66s LJ van Zyl ran in 2011 when he set the South African record.

"It will, however, be foolish to think that next year it is only going to be about 'Socks' and me in the local races. Experience has taught me never to underestimate anyone." 

Getting back to hunting. On asking Hanekom at what he would want to aim if there is another opportunity to hunt, he immediately said a hippo. But then he starts laughing. 

"I am only joking. I would, however, not mind shooting an eland or wildebeest."