Harmse, who holds the world record for the most consecutive national titles in any athletics discipline, turned 45 years old in May.

Apart from winning gold at the Africa Championships six times, he has clinched the silver three times, with the most recent being in Durban in 2016.

Harmse told OFM Sport that it is a dream  to still be representing South Africa at his age.

“I feel very blessed”, said Harmse.

“I’ve been very blessed of my athletics career, and I thank God for that.

“It’s amazing for me because I know I’m at the end of my career and I enjoy it every time that I am selected. I always really appreciate it, because I know that my time is running out.

“I tried to do the best I can as I love athletics a lot, it’s in my blood.

“Try and do everything I can for as long as I can because I know that when it is finished, it is finished.

“I will probably carry on until the day they decide to stop have the hammer as an event. I will most probably become a runner because I like running and I would like to do the Comrades one day.

“I try and organise everything in such a way that I can training, but the injuries are starting to catch up with me, but I am still enjoying it.

“If you enjoy it and your heart is still in it, you can go a long way."

While Harmse has achieved amazing success with the hammer nationally and in Africa, his biggest achievement on the international stage was during the 2019 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, where he won the gold for South Africa. At the 1998 games in Kuala Lampur and in 2006 in Melbourne, he clinched the Commonwealth bronze.

The man who still holds the national record at 80.63m, has never competed at the Olympic Games, and this is due to religious reasons, as he will not compete on a Sunday.

The 2018 African Championship in Asaba will take place between 1 and 5 August.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport