Career
His innovation was to run 14 steps between the hurdles (alternating legs at each). Foreign perspective, 1980"s legend Edwin Moses" innovation was to run 13 steps. He did participate in the 1956 Summer Olympics at the age of 19 and was in third position until he fell over the final hurdle, ultimately finishing sixth.
In 1957 he ran the 440 yard hurdles in 50.7 at an event in Queenstown, Eastern Cape.
Only two days later was the public informed that it was a new world record. At the 1958 Commonwealth Games he improved his record to 49.73.
Potgeiter was a favorite for the Gold Medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics, but was seriously injured in an automobile accident in Germany two weeks before the Olympics, effectively ending his career at the age of 23 years. After 1956"s disappointment in Melbourne, he proceeded to hit the world record four times.
A guest of the wedding was politician Pik Botha, who had his car stolen during the wedding.