The Lowveld’s Benjamin fulfils his Olympic prophecy

In August 2021, after Benjamin Richardson and his teammates broke the 4x100m U20 relay world record, the sport organiser at Nelspruit Primary School, Albert van Putten, said: “We know that you will run in the next Olympic Games.”

Now, almost three years later, that Olympic-sized prophecy is set to come true as he makes history for his former school.

Benjamin, or Benji as he is affectionately known, became an overnight sensation when he narrowly beat the legendary Wayde van Niekerk to win the men’s 200m at the ASA Senior Track & Field National Championships on Sunday.

He not only beat out one of his idols, but ran an Olympic qualifying time of 20.16s. It’s also a new personal best for Benji. “Finally beating him is a great honour, and simply getting to race against him is a privilege,” Benji said.

Benji’s success story, him coming from humble beginnings, advancing to now where he’s set to take part in the Olympics, is a story of inspiration.

“Anybody can make it, as long as they have a goal and work hard towards achieving it. Sometimes you have to take a risk that for others would feel uncomfortable, but deep down you know it will ultimately be worth it.”

Benji was adopted and raised by his grandfather, Osam, and grandmother, Beatrice, when he was only three months old. A career politician, Osam moved to Mbombela from Ghana with his family in 1987. He retired from politics in 2010, the same year as Benji’s first school year in Nelspruit Primary.

“It was God-sent, a perfect coincidence,” Osam recalled. Benji had won his first gold medal in a race at the age of five at Barney & Friends Crèche the year before. His first official race in primary school was in Barberton in 2010, where he won the victor ludorum title.

Young Benji continued to flourish, being crowned the school’s athlete of the year four years in a row. He was also a prolific sportsman beyond athletics, shining in cricket, rugby, tennis and even tae kwon do.

“We used to drive him everywhere, all over the country, to take part in competitions,” Osam said. They would even drive to Ngodini in KaBokweni simply for him to train. “Benji showed some incredible determination.

He simply did not fear defeat. He lost in the 100m and 200m in Grade Six and Seven, but bounced back to win in Grade Eight. He always worked harder,” Osam said. During his primary school years, he was mentored by a few coaches, including Van Putten and Hannes Oosthuizen.

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This sentiment is echoed by Karel van Wyk, who coached him during his last three years in Mbombela before the move to Pretoria in 2021 to attend TuksSport High School for his last two years of high school, on a full scholarship. Before that, he attended Curro Nelspruit, also on a full scholarship, until Grade 10.

“He was always there or thereabouts, but he was a bit of a late bloomer,” Van Wyk said. “Benji really blossomed in his later years when the time came for him to put his head down and really put in the hard work, which a lot of kids fail to do properly.”

Osam had the same to say about young Benji. “Karel told me in Grade Nine that Benji would be a top athlete in SA in two years. This prediction came true, which is absolutely incredible. We are incredibly proud of our boy.”

As he heads off to the Olympics, Benji follows in the footsteps of Lowvelders Burger Lambrechts and Werner Kok, who are both Laerskool Nelspruit alumni.

While Benji packs his bags to take on Paris 2024, he will first represent SA at the 2024 World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas, followed by a few competitions in Europe.