South Africa made a strong statement at the World Athletics U20 Championships held in Lima, Peru, from August 27 to 31, 2024. Competing against over 1,700 athletes from 134 teams, South Africa’s young stars stole the show with remarkable performances on the track, securing multiple medals, including two golds.

Bayanda Walaza Dominates the Sprints

On the second day of the championships, South African sprinter Bayanda Walaza delivered a stunning performance in the men’s 100m final, capturing the gold medal with a time of 10.19 seconds. Walaza, who had been a key figure in South Africa’s 4x100m relay team that won silver at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, was thrilled with his victory. 

“This is special, especially for my people from South Africa. This means a lot,” he said after the race. “This is an extremely emotional moment for me. This was the best thing – I have never felt like this before. Okay, the Olympics. But this one, it’s about me! It feels special.”

Walaza’s compatriot, Bradley Nkoana, who also ran in the 4x100m relay team at the Olympics, secured the bronze medal in the 100m final with a time of 10.26 seconds. Nkoana was a pre-event favourite, and his podium finish further solidified South Africa’s reputation as a sprinting powerhouse. The silver medal was won by Thailand’s Puripol Boonson, who clocked in at 10.22 seconds, earning Thailand its first-ever medal at the World U20 Championships.

Udeme Okon Shines in the 400m

South Africa’s medal haul continued with another gold in the men’s 400m, courtesy of Udeme Okon. The 18-year-old, who has Nigerian roots, clinched the gold with a time of 45.69 seconds, displaying a powerful finish in the final stretch of the race.

Okon’s triumph was not just a win for South Africa but also a proud moment for his heritage. In a post-race interview, he acknowledged his mixed heritage, saying, “I was actually born in South Africa. My father is Nigerian, and my mother is South African, so yeah, I grew up in South Africa.”

Walaza’s Sprint Double

Not content with just one gold, Bayanda Walaza returned to the track on the final day to win the men’s 200m final, completing a sensational sprint double. 

Walaza clocked a time of 20.52 seconds, beating Australia’s Gout Gout, who secured silver with a personal best of 20.60 seconds, and Great Britain’s Jake Odey-Jordan, who took bronze with 20.81 seconds. 

Walaza’s achievement makes him the first man since Christian Malcolm of Great Britain to win both the 100m and 200m titles at the World U20 Championships.

A Promising Future for South African Athletics

South Africa’s outstanding performance in Lima has set the stage for a bright future in athletics, with young stars like Walaza, Nkoana, and Okon leading the charge. The trio’s success at the World U20 Championships adds to the country’s growing list of achievements in international athletics, following the silver medal win by the men’s 4x100m relay team at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

With three gold medals already in the bag and a silver in the men’s shot put from JL van Rensburg, who achieved a personal best throw of 20.74 metres, Team South Africa’s talent pool is looking stronger than ever. 

Walaza summed up our feelings at home, “this is special, especially for my people from South Africa, this means a lot”, he said. 

The athletes’ exceptional performances in Lima have undoubtedly inspired a new generation of South African sprinters, and the future of athletics in the country looks bright.