South Africa’s rising sprint star Bayanda Walaza has issued a bold warning to their global rivals following the nation’s historic gold medal victory at the World Athletics Relays, Guangzhou .
Walaza, just 19, was part of the sensational men’s 4x100m relay team that claimed South Africa’s first-ever World Relays title. The team, featuring Walaza, Akani Simbine, Bradley Nkoana, and Sinesipho Dambile, delivered a breathtaking performance that left athletics fans across the world in awe.
Starting off the relay, Walaza powered through the opening leg before handing over to Dambile. Nkoana maintained the momentum before Simbine produced a stunning anchor leg to overhaul the competition and cross the finish line first in spectacular fashion.
Speaking after the triumph, a fired-up Walaza declared that South Africa has officially arrived among the global sprinting elite.
“It is time for us to pull up for the country. It is time to show the world that, as young as we are, we’re capable of fighting against people who’ve been in this game for so long,” Walaza told The Inside Lane.
The young sprinter credited the victory with boosting the team’s belief that they now belong on the world stage, no longer intimidated by more experienced competitors.
“It gives us that motivation of not being scared amongst big people. It makes us see ourselves as giants, to look at ourselves as one of those big guys. It built my confidence and made me strong so that I can also approach each race and see myself as a winner,” he added.
Olympics Silver Was No Fluke
On his part Bradley Nkoana echoed Walaza’s sentiments, describing their gold medal performance as proof that their recent success is no coincidence.
“This is us showing that what happened at the Olympics was not a fluke. We can do it again, season in and out. We’re here to stay, and we have to remain consistent, showing our capabilities everywhere — here, SA, China, everywhere. We are coming,” Nkoana declared.
South Africa’s Sprinting Renaissance
It has been a standout season for South African sprinters, with veteran Akani Simbine and teenage sensation Walaza among a select group of athletes to have clocked sub-10 second times in 2025. The consistency and depth in the squad have ignited hopes of more podium finishes at upcoming global events.
Team South Africa, armed with sky-high confidence and a youthful, fearless squad, is just beginning its era of dominance.
