Having grabbed a creditable fifth place at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, 21-year-old van Zyl will carry South Africa's cycling hopes on his shoulders when he competes in the 1000 metres time trial on July 24.
National one-kilometre track champion and also South Africa's number one at matchsprint, Zyl proved his Victoria performance was no flash in the pan when he won a 1km World Cup time trial in Milan recently, edging Spanish Olympic champion Jose Escuredo-Raimondez into second place.
He took to the sport in his early teens and has been hooked ever since, despite the tough, lonely regime it has imposed upon him. "Friends introduced me to bike racing and it wasn't long before the thrill and excitement grabbed me," says Zyl, who has progressed under the watchful eye of coach Dave Street.
"I owe everything to Dave. It's his training programme which has got me to the top."
Van Zyl clocked 1 minute 05.24 seconds, nearly two seconds off his personal best of 1:03:34 which he set in the highveld earlier this year, but will have to find another two or three seconds to put himself into contention for a gold medal.
Australia's Shane Kelly holds the 1km record of 1:00.613, clocked at last year's world championships in Colombia last September.
Van Zyl has that record in his sights as he begins the final countdown to Atlanta, having spent three years living in Pennsylvania racing against the world's top riders.
He believes he can draw on that experience to reach the podium, asserting confidently that "I think I've got about an 80 percent chance of a medal at the Olympics."
Barring the way will be Kelly and Eric Hartwell from the USA, third in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics behind Kelly.
South African team manager, Charlie Newcombe, is another who believes Van Zyl could go all the way. "JP is our strongest medal contender. He has been competing for the top positions since 1992 and has matured immensely. He must be our best shot."
JP speaks highly of fellow SA Olympic track rider, Western Province's David George, who will compete in the 4000 metre individual pursuit. "David could surprise a lot of people in Atlanta. He has the ability and now needs to put it together on the day."