ATHLETE
L. J. van Zyl
1985 - Today
L. J. van Zyl
Louis Jacobus van Zyl (born 20 July 1985), better known as L. J. van Zyl, is a retired South African athlete who competed in the 400 metre hurdles. He is the South African record holder in the event with a personal best of 47.66 seconds, which he achieved twice, three months apart. His time ranks him in the all-time top 25. He is a three-time African Champion in the event and competed for his country at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in 17 different languages on Wikipedia. L. J. van Zyl is the 3,823rd most popular athlete (up from 5,626th in 2024), the 321st most popular biography from South Africa (up from 405th in 2019) and the 23rd most popular South African Athlete.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of L. J. van Zyl by language
Among ATHLETES
Among athletes, L. J. van Zyl ranks 3,823 out of 6,025. Before him are Idalys Ortiz, Leuris Pupo, Yuliia Dzhima, Rolando Tucker, Róbert Fazekas, and Niels van Steenis. After him are Elisabetta Perrone, Thomas Endres, Elena Khrustaleva, Alex Schwazer, Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff, and Gao Feng.
Most Popular Athletes in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsIdalys Ortiz
1989 - Present
HPI: 43.91
Rank: 3,817
Leuris Pupo
1977 - Present
HPI: 43.91
Rank: 3,818
Yuliia Dzhima
1990 - Present
HPI: 43.90
Rank: 3,819
Rolando Tucker
1971 - Present
HPI: 43.89
Rank: 3,820
Róbert Fazekas
1975 - Present
HPI: 43.89
Rank: 3,821
Niels van Steenis
1969 - Present
HPI: 43.88
Rank: 3,822
L. J. van Zyl
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.88
Rank: 3,823
Elisabetta Perrone
1968 - Present
HPI: 43.87
Rank: 3,824
Thomas Endres
1969 - Present
HPI: 43.87
Rank: 3,825
Elena Khrustaleva
1980 - Present
HPI: 43.87
Rank: 3,826
Alex Schwazer
1984 - Present
HPI: 43.87
Rank: 3,827
Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff
1960 - Present
HPI: 43.86
Rank: 3,828
Gao Feng
1982 - Present
HPI: 43.86
Rank: 3,829
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1985, L. J. van Zyl ranks 624. Before him are Viktor Elm, Pankaj Advani, Anja Mittag, Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, Sara Giraudeau, and Miki Fujimoto. After him are Elena Temnikova, Ashlyn Harris, Lorenzo Sotomayor, Mstyslav Chernov, Kari Aalvik Grimsbø, and Jennifer Freeman.
Others Born in 1985
Go to all RankingsViktor Elm
SOCCER PLAYER
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.97
Rank: 618
Pankaj Advani
SNOOKER
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.97
Rank: 619
Anja Mittag
SOCCER PLAYER
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.96
Rank: 620
Pierre-Édouard Bellemare
HOCKEY PLAYER
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.96
Rank: 621
Sara Giraudeau
ACTOR
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.96
Rank: 622
Miki Fujimoto
SINGER
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.92
Rank: 623
L. J. van Zyl
ATHLETE
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.88
Rank: 624
Elena Temnikova
SINGER
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.88
Rank: 625
Ashlyn Harris
SOCCER PLAYER
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.87
Rank: 626
Lorenzo Sotomayor
ATHLETE
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.84
Rank: 627
Mstyslav Chernov
FILM DIRECTOR
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.84
Rank: 628
Kari Aalvik Grimsbø
HANDBALL PLAYER
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.83
Rank: 629
Jennifer Freeman
ACTOR
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.83
Rank: 630
In South Africa
Among people born in South Africa, L. J. van Zyl ranks 321 out of 454. Before him are Zhang Jian (null), Elana Meyer (1966), Doctor Khumalo (1967), Kandyse McClure (1980), Anneline Kriel (1955), and Zahara (1987). After him are Piet Norval (1970), Justin Rose (1980), Elias Charalambous (1980), Frantz Kruger (1975), Tony Leon (1956), and Christo van Rensburg (1962).
Others born in South Africa
Go to all RankingsZhang Jian
ATHLETE
HPI: 44.04
Rank: 315
Elana Meyer
ATHLETE
1966 - Present
HPI: 44.03
Rank: 316
Doctor Khumalo
SOCCER PLAYER
1967 - Present
HPI: 44.02
Rank: 317
Kandyse McClure
ACTOR
1980 - Present
HPI: 44.00
Rank: 318
Anneline Kriel
CELEBRITY
1955 - Present
HPI: 43.95
Rank: 319
Zahara
SINGER
1987 - 2023
HPI: 43.94
Rank: 320
L. J. van Zyl
ATHLETE
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.88
Rank: 321
Piet Norval
TENNIS PLAYER
1970 - Present
HPI: 43.72
Rank: 322
Justin Rose
GOLFER
1980 - Present
HPI: 43.71
Rank: 323
Elias Charalambous
SOCCER PLAYER
1980 - Present
HPI: 43.54
Rank: 324
Frantz Kruger
ATHLETE
1975 - Present
HPI: 43.50
Rank: 325
Tony Leon
POLITICIAN
1956 - Present
HPI: 43.44
Rank: 326
Christo van Rensburg
TENNIS PLAYER
1962 - Present
HPI: 43.37
Rank: 327
Among ATHLETES In South Africa
Among athletes born in South Africa, L. J. van Zyl ranks 23. Before him are Kelsey-Lee Barber (1991), Zola Budd (1966), Péter Nagy (null), Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1980), Zhang Jian (null), and Elana Meyer (1966). After him are Frantz Kruger (1975), Hestrie Cloete (1978), Chris Wood (null), Bridgitte Hartley (1983), Josia Thugwane (1971), and Raúl Martínez (null).
Kelsey-Lee Barber
1991 - Present
HPI: 45.60
Rank: 17
Zola Budd
1966 - Present
HPI: 45.59
Rank: 18
Péter Nagy
HPI: 44.88
Rank: 19
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi
1980 - 2014
HPI: 44.57
Rank: 20
Zhang Jian
HPI: 44.04
Rank: 21
Elana Meyer
1966 - Present
HPI: 44.03
Rank: 22
L. J. van Zyl
1985 - Present
HPI: 43.88
Rank: 23
Frantz Kruger
1975 - Present
HPI: 43.50
Rank: 24
Hestrie Cloete
1978 - Present
HPI: 42.91
Rank: 25
Chris Wood
HPI: 42.68
Rank: 26
Bridgitte Hartley
1983 - Present
HPI: 41.69
Rank: 27
Josia Thugwane
1971 - Present
HPI: 41.18
Rank: 28
Raúl Martínez
HPI: 40.47
Rank: 29














































