Former athlete keeps doing the math

Namibian sprinter Ane Rautenbach will remember 11 February 2020 for the rest of her life. This was the day on which she ran a remarkable 38,08 seconds to set a new Namibian women’s record in the 300m at the ACNW League Meeting at Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Rautenbach says it was never her intention to have a go at the record that day.

“I actually forgot about it as I just did the 300m in the off season for training, and I also ran other items that day. For me it was just a training session and not something I have worked on with my coach.

“It was not really a big accomplishment for me as I have even run faster duirng training,” she says.

The former Walvis Bay Primary School pupil also clocked an impressive 24,03 seconds in the 200m at the AGN League to finish runner-up to Justin Palframan from the University of Stellenbosch in a time of 23,39, with third-placed Nadia Volschenk of the University of Pretoria a distant 26,60.

What makes the former 400m runner’s career remarkable is the fact that she only started to show an interest in the sport when she was a Grade 8 pupil at Walvis Bay Private High School.

Rautenbach, who grew up at Walvis Bay, started running with the Swakopmund Striders while she was at high school, under coach Belinda Oberholster.

However, it was not until she attended North-West University that she started to take her athletics career seriously.

“As a former athlete, I’d want to be remembered for my determination and the way I pushed the boundaries of what was possible.

“I hope people recall my relentless work ethic, my ability to perform under pressure and my sportsmanship.

“Additionally, I would like to be known for inspiring the next generation of sprinters and for my contributions to the sport beyond my own achievements,” she says.

Rautenbach has a history with the national teams, having competed in Mozambique with the Namibian under-20 team, where she achieved a second-place in the 400m event.

She also participated in the African Seniors 2022 held in Mauritius.

Those experiences have been instrumental in shaping her athletic career, she says.

“My most memorable race ever was during the North-West Championships in 2020. It was my first official competition for the season, and also my last one due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. I clocked a huge personal best of 52,84 seconds in the 400m that day.

“My running style is characterised by technique and a smooth, relaxed way of running. I focus on perfecting my form and efficiency,” she says.

Rautenbach represented Namibia in various events, with her best achievement being second place in the 400m at the Region 5 Games in Mauritius.

She also competed in the 200m at the African Senior Games in 2022.

Unfortunately, her peak years coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to the cancellation of major events, like the World Student Games, African Senior Championships and the All African Games.

Despite qualifying for those events, she did not get the chance to compete at her best, and after recovering from a pubic stress injury in 2021 and dealing with flare-ups of ulcerative colitis, she wasn’t in top form but still managed to qualify and compete in both the 400m and 200m at the African Seniors.

Although she did not perform as well as she hoped, ending in the top 16 in the 200m, Rautenbach was proud of her resilience and determination.

“Growing up, I was deeply passionate about equestrian sports, particularly show jumping.

“Athletics was something I did because others recognised my talent. However, it wasn’t until my university years that I developed a true love for athletics,” she says.

Rautenbach says her biggest regret as an athlete and in life is not fully appreciating the moments of being able to run and taking running for granted, especially before facing injuries.

It was only after experiencing those setbacks that she realised the importance of cherishing every opportunity and moment.

However, she realised that each injury and challenge has contributed to building her character and making her stronger.

WORK, FAMILY

The Pretoria-based former athlete is married to a former South African 110m hurdler, and the couple is currently expecting their first child.

A normal day for her starts with attending classes at North-West University.

“This structured schedule keeps me engaged in my studies throughout the day. I am doing my honours in education and mathematics,” she says.

“I first had a sport bursary, and I used to run for the university. I was also contacted by the University of Alabama in the United States. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and my excellent performance with my coach at the time, I couldn’t be convinced to move.”

Rautenbach is proud of her achievements as an athlete. However, she believes there is untapped potential and many more accomplishments she could have pursued.

She is urging young athletes to enjoy every moment of their journey – the experiences, friendships and lessons learned along the way are just as valuable as the victories, she says.

“I would encourage them to work smarter, not just harder. Remember, you are your own biggest competition. Each day won’t be your best, but strive to be the best.”