 The distance was further than the official junior world record, but due to the event staff and measuring equipment not having been officially calibrated, Pienaar's junior world record could not be regarded as official by the IAAF.Pienaar graduated from Kanonkop High School in Middelburg, South Africa and was invited to attend the prestigious training group at Potchefstroom University under the watchful eye of coach Tersis Liebenburg in 2000.During his tenure at Potchefstroom, he won the gold medal at the IAAF Coca-Cola World Junior Championships held in Santiago, Chile with a distance of 78.11.