Gerhardus Cornelius Potgieter (born 16 April 1937 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa) is a retired South African Track and field athletics competitor, primarily known for the 400-metre and 440-yard hurdles.

Former world record holder Kevin Young was able to achieve 12 steps between some hurdles.

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.

Potgeiter was a favorite for the gold medal[3] at the 1960 Summer Olympics, but was seriously injured in an automobile accident in Germany two weeks before,[4] effectively ending his career at the age of 23.

Despite a partial loss of sight, after years of physical therapy, he did manage to return to win the South African championship in the decathlon in 1966.