Willem Coertzen
Encyclopedia
Willem Coertzen is a South Africa
n track and field
athlete who competes in the decathlon
. He was the silver medallist in the event at the African Championships in Athletics
in 2008. He is the current South African national record
holder in the event with his score of 8146 points, which he set while representing his country at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
.
He began taking part in decathlon competitions in 2007 for Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers in the United Kingdom
, where he won the South of England Decathlon Championship in Bedford
with a total of 7245 points. The following year he returned to his native South Africa to win his first national decathlon title, then recorded a personal best of 7721 points in Réduit
. A month later at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics
in Addis Ababa
, he took the silver medal
in the decathlon behind Algeria's Larbi Bouraada and also managed a bronze medal
in the pole vault
event with a modest clearance of 4.00 m. He underwent a groin operation in November that year, leading him to miss the following year's national championships.
The following May he completed two decathlons: he set a new South African record
in the event with a score of 7907 points for third place at the Multistars
meeting in Desenzano del Garda
. Although he was eleventh at the 2009 Hypo-Meeting
in Götzis
later that month, he improved his record further with a total of 8054 points, clearing the 8000-point mark for the first time in his career. He was selected to represent his country at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
and he significantly improved upon his past marks. Reflecting upon his performance of 8146 points in the men's decathlon
in Berlin
, he said: "Six personal bests out of 10 events, 14th in the world, and a new national record - who could be unhappy with that?".
He competed sparingly in 2010, but returned to international competition the following year. He edged out Olympic medallist Dmitriy Karpov
at the TNT - Fortuna Meeting
in June 2011, taking third place with a score of 8094 points (which included personal bests in the discus throw
, shot put
and 1500 metres
).
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete who competes in the decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
. He was the silver medallist in the event at the African Championships in Athletics
African Championships in Athletics
The African Championships in Athletics is a continental athletics event organized by the Confederation of African Athletics. It is generally organised biennually, every other event is held same year as the Summer Olympics....
in 2008. He is the current South African national record
South African records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in South Africa maintained by Athletics South Africa .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceA = affected by altitude# = not officially ratified...
holder in the event with his score of 8146 points, which he set while representing his country at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
.
He began taking part in decathlon competitions in 2007 for Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where he won the South of England Decathlon Championship in Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
with a total of 7245 points. The following year he returned to his native South Africa to win his first national decathlon title, then recorded a personal best of 7721 points in Réduit
Reduit
A reduit is a fortified structure such as a citadel or a keep into which the defending troops can retreat when the outer defences are breached...
. A month later at the 2008 African Championships in Athletics
2008 African Championships in Athletics
The 16th African Championships in Athletics was held in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, from April 30 to May 4, 2008. The competition venue was the Addis Ababa Stadium. It is the largest Athletics event held in Ethiopia to date...
in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, he took the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the decathlon behind Algeria's Larbi Bouraada and also managed a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
event with a modest clearance of 4.00 m. He underwent a groin operation in November that year, leading him to miss the following year's national championships.
The following May he completed two decathlons: he set a new South African record
South African records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in South Africa maintained by Athletics South Africa .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distanceA = affected by altitude# = not officially ratified...
in the event with a score of 7907 points for third place at the Multistars
Multistars
Multistars is an annual international athletics competition held in Desenzano del Garda, Italy in early May. International athletes compete in the combined events, Decathlon for men and Heptathlon for women. Established in 1988, it is part of the IAAF World Combined Events Challenge. The most...
meeting in Desenzano del Garda
Desenzano del Garda
Desenzano del Garda is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy, which borders Lake Garda. It is bordered by other communes of Castiglione delle Stiviere, Lonato, Padenghe sul Garda and Sirmione.-History:...
. Although he was eleventh at the 2009 Hypo-Meeting
2009 Hypo-Meeting
The 35th edition of the annual Hypo-Meeting took place on May 30 and May 31, 2009 in Götzis, Austria. The track and field competition, featuring a decathlon and a heptathlon event was part of the 2009 IAAF World Combined Events Challenge....
in Götzis
Götzis
Götzis is a town in the western Austrian state of Vorarlberg, district Feldkirch.The town is well-known for its annual hypo-combined events meeting, the so called Hypo-Meeting, where some of the world's leading decathletes and heptathletes gather in the Mösle stadium...
later that month, he improved his record further with a total of 8054 points, clearing the 8000-point mark for the first time in his career. He was selected to represent his country at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
and he significantly improved upon his past marks. Reflecting upon his performance of 8146 points in the men's decathlon
2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's decathlon
The men's decathlon at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Olympic Stadium on August 19 and August 20.-Medalists:-Records:Prior to the competition, the following records were as follows.-Qualification standards:-Schedule:...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, he said: "Six personal bests out of 10 events, 14th in the world, and a new national record - who could be unhappy with that?".
He competed sparingly in 2010, but returned to international competition the following year. He edged out Olympic medallist Dmitriy Karpov
Dmitriy Karpov
Dmitriy Karpov is an athlete from Kazakhstan who competes in decathlon and heptathlon...
at the TNT - Fortuna Meeting
TNT - Fortuna Meeting
The TNT - Fortuna Meeting is an annual track and field combined events meeting which takes place at Sletiště Stadium in Kladno, Czech Republic in mid-June...
in June 2011, taking third place with a score of 8094 points (which included personal bests in the discus throw
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
, shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
and 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
).