He's a star of the athletics track, now South African Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk is a movie star.
And the 400m world record holder hopes his life story, as told in a new documentary, will inspire others to reach for the stars.
The Cape-born athlete spoke to IOL Sport at the premiere of 43.03: The Wayde van Niekerk Story at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Tuesday night.
Champion swimmer Chad le Clos, Wayde’s wife Chesney, his cousin Cheslin Kolbe and his wife, Layla, and a host of family and friends gathered at the Nu Metro cinemas for the screening of his amazing life story.
The 25-year-old runner has been sidelined by a knee injury in recent months, but says his rehab is going well.
The documentary - which was sponsored by his personal backers T-Systems South Africa - takes viewers back to Wayde being born prematurely and his fight against the odds since then.
Mom, Odessa Swarts, spoke proudly in the film about “Waydie” and how he fought for his life as a baby.
He first achieved prominence on the athletics track as a nine-year-old while growing up in Kraaifontein, attaining Western Province Under-10 colours.
And who can forget that moment when he broke Michael Johnson’s record at the 2016 Rio Olympics with the magical time of 43.03?
In the doccie, track legend Usain Bolt, SA’s own 100m champ Akani Simbine and his coach, Tannie Ans Botha, speak glowingly about Wayde’s work ethic and determination to succeed.
From left, Layla Cupido-Kolbe (wife of Cheslin Kolbe) and Rachel Kolisi (wife of Siya Kolisi) pose with Wayde van Niekerk and his wife Chesney. Photo: Ashfak Mohamed
Speaking after the screening, Wayde said: “It was mentioned quite a few times in the documentary about how difficult it was for me to just open up and allow my stories to be told.
“But watching the documentary now, and hearing feedback and how excited everyone was, you kind of actually feel that it was worth it to just open my doors and allow things to happen now.
“I believe in a powerful God. He’s shown me His faithfulness, greatness, day in and day out. I mean, a boy from Cape Town that basically started off with nothing, and worked myself all the way up. It’s a testimony to each and every South African out there, to say that ‘If he can do it, we can do it’.”