Germiston coach shapes next generation of throwers

Tone van Rensburg, a 60-year-old athletics coach from Germiston, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of throwers.

With 20 years of experience under his belt, Van Rensburg trains athletes at the Germiston Stadium, including a new group of university students.

As a qualified coach, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his sessions in discus throw, hammer throw, shot put, javelin, and weight throw for masters (35+ age group).

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Van Rensburg currently works with four athletes at the stadium and also serves as an external coach for three students at the University of Johannesburg.

His impressive track record includes competing in five World Athletics Championships and two World Masters Games, with a focus on discus and hammer throws and other throw events.

Van Rensburg’s coaching career was sparked by his children, who encouraged him to pursue a coaching qualification.

He now holds esteemed certifications, including ASA Level 2 and IAAF Level 1.

“I was initially training my children for school competitions but soon found myself coaching a group of ten youngsters,” he recalls.

“I had to get qualified to properly guide them,” said Van Rensburg.

Van Rensburg’s own athletic journey began at school, where he excelled in discus throw and competed in four South African Championships.

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During his time in the army, at 19, he discovered hammer throw and went on to compete in the U21 national championships in both discus and hammer throw.

After a hiatus to pursue a career in electrical engineering and lack of a professional coach, Van Rensburg returned to athletics at 39, inspired by a friend’s invitation to watch a meet at the Germiston Stadium.

He picked up the discus again and resumed training with the encouragement of his wife.His advice to athletes is to never stop training, as it’s challenging to regain form once you’ve stopped competing.

“After a two-year journey to regain my form, I qualified for national colours and competed at the senior level as a master, alongside my sons.

“In a historic moment, we made history by becoming the first father-son trio to share the podium in hammer throw,” said Van Rensburg.

“Our combined age was 150 years, and our throws added up to an impressive 151 meters. I continued competing with my son at the senior SA championships for five consecutive years, until I retired at 52. Throwing discus since childhood, I’ve been fortunate enough to become a champion multiple times,” said Van Rensburg.

Masters career

“I achieved the number one spot in the world in hammer throw twice, with my standout performances at the World Masters Games in Sydney and the World Athletics Championships in Canada in 2001.

“In both events I got to secure a silver medal in hammer throw and a gold medal in weight throw,” said Van Rensburg.

“My final Masters Games appearance was in Auckland, New Zealand in 2017, where I won an impressive four gold medals and one silver medal. I competed in a range of events, including discus throw, hammer throw, shot put, weight throw, and weight pentathlon – a combined event featuring the four Olympic throwing events plus weight throw,” said Van Rensburg.

Coaching
“I’m passionate about coaching because of my own experiences in the sport. I can confidently share my expertise with my students, knowing I’ve been in their shoes. They absorb my knowledge and use it to improve their performance.

“One of my athletes, Ursula Kilia, has made impressive progress, progressing from the South African Senior Championships to World Masters Games events.

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“Recently, she competed in the World Master Games in Sweden, winning four medals which includes gold and silver medals.

“In just 18 months under my guidance, she’s broken three South African records in hammer throw, discus, and weight pentathlon.

“Hammer throw isn’t widely popular, and it’s a rare sight in Gauteng schools. When we try to promote the sport, it seems the focus on rugby takes precedence.

“Although I’ve introduced children/leaners to hammer throw through CGA events, there’s a need for more competitions to help athletes prep for the big stages,” said Van Rensburg.

He continues his coaching sessions weekdays at the Germiston Stadium.