South African sprint icon Wayde van Niekerk—the 400m world record holder (43.03 seconds)—is deep into a gritty comeback journey. After battling injuries, he’s steadily clawing back his elite form, most recently blasting to third place in the 200m (20.03 seconds) at May 2025’s Adidas Atlanta City Games. While Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (19.55) and Trinidad’s Jereem Richards (19.63) edged him out, the race confirmed his trajectory: van Niekerk’s still got wheels.

But behind every stride of this redemption arc? His wife, Chesney Campbell van Niekerk, is the anchor keeping him grounded through setbacks and silver linings. Thus, without further delay, let’s talk about van Niekerk’s wife, who has been his bolster amid all the ups and downs.

Meet Chesney Campbell: Wayde van Niekerk’s Wife

Chesney Campbell, now Chesney van Niekerk, is Wayde’s ride-or-die since their college days. Born in South Africa, she’s a former basketball star (more on that later) turned track WAG extraordinaire. The couple tied the knot in October 2017 in a cozy Bloemfontein ceremony, with Wayde gushing on Instagram: “Can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you… The girl of my dreams!” Their wedding was a “biggest party ever” affair, complete with Wayde in a sharp three-piece suit and Chesney rocking a flowing white gown and veil.

Fun fact: They got engaged in December 2016 after dating for four years, with Wayde dropping a “she said yes” Instagram post showing off Chesney’s ring. No cheesy proposals here—just pure, unfiltered love.

What is Chesney Campbell’s Profession?

Before becoming a track wife and mom, Chesney was hooping hard on the court. Standing at 6’0”, she dominated girls’ basketball at Panguitch High School in Utah, racking up 933 career points and 541 rebounds. But after moving back to South Africa, she swapped sneakers for a quieter life supporting Wayde’s career. These days, she’s a full-time mom and social media maven, sharing glimpses of their family life (think: baby bump reveals and toddler chaos) to her Instagram followers.

Oh, and she’s low-key a wedding planner. When they tied the knot, Chesney admitted she “never dreamt about weddings” but pulled off a stunning day by letting Wayde pick his own suit while she handled the rest. Girl’s got skills.

When Did Wayde van Niekerk And Chesney Campbell Meet?

Their love story started at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, where Wayde studied marketing and Chesney likely turned heads on campus. They began dating around 2013, bonding over their shared love of sports and low-key lifestyles. While Wayde was busy smashing records, Chesney kept things real—no flashy PDA, just steady support.

Their relationship survived Wayde’s grueling training, a devastating ACL injury in 2017, and even a move to Florida for his coaching. Through it all? “She’s my rock,” Wayde said in interviews.

Do Wayde van Niekerk And Chesney Campbell Have Kids?

Yes, Wayde van Niekerk and Chesney are a squad of four now. Their first little speedster, Elijah Luca, sprinted into the world on November 24, 2021, with Wayde sharing the cutest pic of the baby’s tiny fingers wrapped around his gold-medal-winning hand. Fast-forward to April 2025, and they doubled the chaos with Eziah, whose arrival was announced via Instagram with a cheeky “Hello world, meet Eziah” post.

Married since 2017, these two are pros at juggling diaper changes and world records—Wayde’s even been caught on video racing Elijah in their backyard. Between training sessions and toddler tantrums, Chesney’s Insta serves up #DadLife gold, proving even Olympic champs aren’t immune to snack negotiations and car-seat struggles.

With Paris 2024 in the rearview, Wayde’s gunning for the 2025 World Championships and 2026 Commonwealth Games, aiming to reclaim his 400m world record (currently 43.03 seconds). But family comes first: Chesney’s hinted they’re done expanding their team (“two kids is plenty!”), So expect more dad-and-lad content as Wayde mentors young sprinters and preps for retirement.

One thing’s clear: behind every speedy Van Niekerk lap, there’s a Chesney cheering from the stands—baby on hip and phone in hand to capture the moment.