De Villiers dispels multi-sport myths

While it’s become a common refrain that AB de Villiers could have applied his freakish skills to any of the number of sports he grew up playing, the man himself has poured cold water on the notion he’s the multi-talented sportsman he’s been made out to be.

De Villiers made the surprising revelation in his recently released autobiography, AB: The Autobiography, in response to the "falsehoods and exaggerations" about his all-round abilities.

It’s been suggested the Proteas Test and one-day international captain held South African national records in swimming and athletics, was a tennis and badminton prodigy, a standout junior rugby and soccer player, as well as playing off a scratch handicap in golf. 

But de Villiers has revealed that truth behind some of the sports he supposedly excelled in during his formative years.

"I played hockey for one year at high school … but I was never shortlisted for the national hockey squad, or ever came remotely close to that level," de Villiers wrote.

"I have never played any organised football (soccer). We used to kick a ball around during break at school and the game has become part of the Proteas’ warm-up routine. That is all.

"I never represented South Africa (in rugby) at any level … and was never captain.

"I never played badminton at school. If my memory is correct, I have only ever played one game of badminton in my entire life, and that was just a fun game with (former South Africa wicketkeeper) Mark Boucher.

"I did get my official handicap down to a respectable one when I was 15 but there’s not much time to play golf these days and my handicap has drifted to nine." 

And while de Villiers has sought to dispel some of the myths around his alleged superhuman talents, he has conceded, perhaps modestly, that he did show some promise in a few other sports.

"These are the facts: decent at golf, useful at rugby and tennis when I was young, and enjoying cricket ever since," he said.

"The errors will doubtless remain on the Internet and people will continue to believe I was some kind of prodigy at all those different sports, but the truth will hopefully somehow endure."

After missing South Africa’s Test series against New Zealand through injury, de Villiers will return to skipper the Proteas in their upcoming ODI series against Australia.