South African sprinter, Marlie Viljoen has acknowledged the challenging conditions at the ongoing African Championships but says athletes have had to adapt as organisers continue to improve the situation.
Speaking after her event, Viljoen admitted the environment has not been ideal, although she believes progress has been made in recent days.
“You know, I don’t have a problem with it. It’s the same for everyone,” she said. “I understand it’s not the best circumstances, but they have improved it immensely over the last few days.”
The South African athlete also praised the recent improvements in hospitality, specifically highlighting the quality of food provided to competitors.
“The food last night was amazing,” Viljoen added.
Despite concerns raised by several athletes and officials during the championships, Viljoen maintained that competitors are all facing the same circumstances and must remain focused on performance.
“This is Africa, we’re all going through the same thing. The circumstances are the same for everyone. So, I just try to cancel that out and get to that start line,” she said