Strydom will be 'sorely missed' in South African athletics

Tuks coach Jaun Strydom, who died suddenly last week, will leave a massive void in South African athletics.

"It is a great sadness for our sport. We were all shocked to hear Jaun had died. It happened way too soon. Athletics still needed him," said Nico van Heerden, a long-time friend and fellow coach at Tuks.

Athletes and coaches paid their last respects to Strydom during a memorial service in Pretoria today.

According to Hugo Badenhorst, Strydom was the best 100-metre and 110-metre hurdles coach in South Africa.

"He was an exceptionally well-read and knowledgeable coach, who made hurdles coaching and speed development his speciality. Jaun had a unique ability to convey information to his athletes and those who attended our coaching courses. He rarely failed to improve athletes' technique," said Badenhorst

Marione Fourie's performances in the 100m hurdles over the past three years are a testament to that. The 12.69 seconds with which she won the short hurdles in Johannesburg on Wednesday is currently the fastest in the world.

Over the past three years, Fourie has been ranked as one of the 20 fastest female athletes in the 100m hurdles in the world. Last year, she broke the South African record to 12.49 seconds. Earlier this year, she broke the South African indoor record to 7.91 seconds.

Fourie was due to compete in the World Indoor Championships in China this weekend but withdrew because she wanted to pay her final respects to her coach at his funeral today (21 March). According to Fourie, Strydom was like a father to her.

Badenhorst describes Strydom as a man with an interestingly complex personality.

"Juan was an outspoken person who shot from the hip and was never afraid to speak his mind. His opinions were always well thought out and well-founded. He would express them without any fear or reservation to whoever he was talking to, regardless of that person's status or stature.

"He was not the kind of person who would criticise or discuss you behind your back. He would look you in the eye and say what he wanted without fear or reservation. This made him a valued and generally respected person," said Badenhorst.

According to Van Heerden, Strydom went out of his way to make things happen for his athletes.