Sprint prospect Benjamin Richardson has to contend with more than the bend of the athletics track, also struggling with a curved spine that causes back pain.
He discovered he had scoliosis in 2020, but that didn’t stop him establishing himself as SA’s most promising speedster a few months back.
Richardson picked up two medals at the world under-20 championships in Nairobi in August, the 100m silver and 4x100m relay gold.
And next year he wants to take the individual gold and break the 9.97 sec world age-group record, held by American Trayvon Bromell.
Richardson, who completed his matric exams this week, is far taller than most of his rivals. “I’m 1.90m the last time I checked,” Richardson said after a training session. “I think I am [still growing], but with my back condition it’s hard to tell.
“It affects my running a lot, back pains and all of that.”
Richardson believes this causes his forward-leaning posture while walking. “I’m sure I was born with it because ever since I was young I was always walking like this instead of upright.
“I used to get made fun of because of it and I really couldn’t control it.”
The teasing started at high school in Mbombela, where he grew up with his maternal grandparents, retired lecturer Edward and retired teacher Beatrice.
Other pupils would mimic him as he walked by, and then laugh at him. “It kind of hurt a bit, but you get used to it.”
Richardson was born in Ireland and was just two months old when his grandparents took over as his primary caregivers, though he remains in close contact with his mother, nurse Efua, a Ghanaian who lives in London.
Always sporty, Richardson focused on rugby and athletics at high school, and won a spot at the Tuks high school from grade 11.
I’m planning on the Olympic Games in 2024. Even though I’m young I still hope I can compete with the adults and ... get a medal. Usain Bolt did it when he was 21, so why can’t I?
— Benjamin Richardson
Inside of two years he’s reached the top of the world and he’s looking to go even higher, starting as early as next year.
“There’s no 'too soon',” said Richardson, who turns 18 later this month. “Next year me and uncle Paul [Gorries, his coach] are trying to get the world junior record ... That is the main goal. I really don’t want to see a 10 next year as my PB [personal best]. I want a 9.”
He’d also like to upgrade the 100m silver to a gold, having learnt valuable lessons in Kenya.
“It was a big change for me because SA was nothing compared to that because [at national champs] you could jog ... You learn that you always have to be performing.”
In the final Richardson was leading until getting overhauled in the closing stages. “I wasn’t really used to the pressure because usually when I’m there I’m alone ... I have to get used to pressure and people being next to me while I run and keep calm.”
He has a 10.17 best in the 100m and 20.63 in the 200m, though he believes he can improve greatly in the longer sprint too.
“I’m supposed to be very good at the 200m because of my height, but I tend to get tired quickly so I still have to work on my stamina,” added Richardson, who plans to study town and regional planning at the University of Pretoria next year, though he’d like to switch to architecture down the line.
He would like to go to the senior world championships in Eugene, Oregon, from July 15-24 and the age-group world meet in Cali, Colombia, the next month.
“I’m not really thinking of competing with the seniors right now, but I would like to make the relay team to go to Oregon and just get a few run-throughs there to see how the atmosphere is.
“I’m planning on the Olympic Games in 2024. Even though I’m young I still hope I can compete with the adults and ... get a medal. Usain Bolt did it when he was 21, so why can’t I?”
Why not? After all, the 1.95m-tall Jamaican also had scoliosis.
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