Ernst van Dyk: King of Boston
Brad Morgan
22 April 2004
Boston loves Ernst van Dyk, and Ernst van Dyk loves Boston. On Sunday 18 April, the South African wheelchair athlete was the guest of honour at the baseball showdown between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. On Monday 19 April he was the toast of the city as he swept to a fourth consecutive Boston Marathon title in world record time.
The Capetonian clocked a sensational 1:18:27 to shatter the world record previously held by Heinz Frei by a massive one minute and 47 seconds.
Van Dyk's effort was well rewarded: he picked up US$10 000 for the win, a further $7 500 for a course record, and another $10 000 for a world record. $27 500 for less than an hour-and-a-half's work is not a bad return!
His fourth win in succession equalled the record held by Franz Nietlispach, who took victory from 1997 to 2000. Nietlispach came home in third this time around, with second-placed Joel Jeannot finishing inside the previous course record held by
Frei, in 1:21:08.
'I love this race'
After the race, Van Dyk told the Boston Globe: "I love this race. I always race against the best people in the world here, and that's rewarding. I love the way all the fans cheered along the course. In some races there are no fans.
"As far as I'm concerned, this is the granddaddy of all marathon races."
It was a dominating performance by the South African ace, who was on record pace from early in the race. He said he was not bothered by the hot conditions, because he trains in similar conditions in South Africa.
Speaking of training, it's quite a regimen that Van Dyk follows: seven days a week, four hours a day.
Van Dyk used to be a top swimmer before concentrating his energies on wheelchair racing. In 1992 he competed in the Barcelona Olympics in both swimming and wheelchair racing. He picked up a fifth place in the pool, and made the semi-finals in wheelchair events, but it was the
track that captured his heart.
He reckons the effect of the cheering crowd as he circled the track led to his decision to quit the pool and take on wheelchair racing alone.
Van Dyk will compete in the Paralympics in Athens later this year. Then he'll be focusing on an unprecedented fifth Boston Marathon title in succession. It's the world's most prestigious wheelchair marathon race, and Van Dyk wants the record for most wins all to himself.
| 
