Winning four races from four starts is a strong statement in athletics, and that's exactly what SW Nel of TuksAthletics, has achieved this season in the 110m hurdles. At the 2024 Gauteng North Athletics Championships held at Pilditch, Nel defended his title with a time of 13.85 seconds, just 0.01 seconds off his personal best.

The 21-year-old has been making waves since 2023 when he claimed victory in seven out of 12 races and earned a bronze medal at the South African Championships. His success is hardly surprising, considering his heritage. Nel's father, Wimpie Nel, was the South African 110m hurdles champion in 1992 and 1993 and has since become a respected coach.

Athletics wasn’t always SW Nel's first love—he dabbled in rugby, cricket, and table tennis before fully committing to athletics in Grade 9. Under his father's coaching, Nel is driven by a unique motivation. "My dad intentionally gets me angry before a race, and it works. The angrier I am, the better I perform," he says.

Although SW Nel dreams of competing in the Olympic Games, he acknowledges that qualifying for Paris 2024 will be a challenge, with the standard set at 13.27s. However, he remains focused on improving his time, aiming to reach 13.40s this season and potentially qualify through the World Athletics ranking system. For now, his sights are set on competing at the African Championships in Cameroon this June.