ryk neethling

I came across a great little anecdote while doing some research for a sports related project Sonja and I are working on - it will hopefully translate into a television series next year, but more of that once we're actually allowed to talk about it :) Here's the anecdote:

At the 150th birthday celebration of Grey College, Ryk Neethling gave an address in which he attributed his Olympic success to his education and upbringing at Grey. He recounted an experience he had with Russian swimming icon Alexander Popov, who attempted to speak to the Old Grey shortly before the relay world record in Athens. Neethling was oblivious to the approach by Popov, and stared "straight through him" as he was so focused. Popov said he knew then that a great performance was about to happen.
 
This anecdote got me thinking about how, if we are able to ask the right questions of a story in sport...