Sure it might be close to 30 hours since Wayde shocked the world (and Usain Bolt) by smashing the 400 metre world record, but that doesn’t mean we can’t carry on the celebrations.

We know Wayde is a man of God, so he probably isn’t nursing a hangover after a bender out on the town, but what about his coach? Unlikely, given that coach Tannie Ans (real name Ans Botha) is a 74-year-old great-grandmother.

She’s not lacking in experience, having coached since the 60s, and now the world is eager to find out more. Here’s QZ:

“She’s an amazing woman,” Van Niekerk told reporters after the win. “I’m grateful I could trust in her work, and I think it speaks for itself. What she’s achieved as a coach—I’m just thankful to be part of the history she’s made.”

Botha first noticed Van Niekerk in 2010 at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Canada, where the young runner finished fourth. Two years later she began coaching Van Niekerk, a marketing student at the University of Free State in Bloemfontein, where Botha was the head athletics coach. Under her tutelage, Van Niekerk has shaved four seconds off his personal best in the 400-meter race.

Following Wayde’s win the world’s focus has turned to the modest Namibian, although she has mostly laughed off all the attention and spoken about how proud she is of her star athlete.

Well Tannie, all of us who have spent yesterday and today beaming send a thanks your way. Keep on pushing Wayde and maybe we can go sub 43 seconds?

[source:qz]