At just 18 years old, Bayanda Walaza has made a name for himself as one of the world’s most promising sprint athletes.
Story Summary:
- Bayanda Walaza, the fastest teen in the world, has opted to study at the University of Pretoria (Tuks) over multiple US scholarship offers.
- He will continue training with his coach, Thabo Matebedi, while balancing his academic and athletic commitments.
- Walaza recently won gold in the 100m and 200m at the World Athletics U20 Championships.
Bayanda Walaza opens up about life as a teen athlete
After clinching gold in both the 100m and 200m at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, Walaza is now focusing on balancing his academic responsibilities and athletic career.
As a matric student at Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria, Walaza has faced the challenge of juggling his rigorous track commitments with his studies.
“For now it’s causing a lot of stress, but I know I’m going to catch up,” Walaza told The Citizen.
“I have the facilities to do that, and I have teachers who are supporting me, as well as family and friends, so I think it will go very well.”
Having participated in the Olympic Games in Paris as part of South Africa’s silver-medal 4x100m relay team, Walaza missed some of his prelim exams but remains confident that with the help of his support system, he can manage both his academic and sporting commitments.
Why he chose Tuks over US universities
Despite receiving multiple offers from top US universities, Walaza has decided to remain in South Africa, enrolling at the University of Pretoria (Tuks).
Walaza explained that staying in Pretoria allows him to continue working with his coach, Thabo Matebedi, whose guidance has played a crucial role in his success.
“I’m not going to change coaches because that can cause a lot of difficulties,” Walaza said.
“He made me get two gold medals, and silver at the Olympics, so why must I leave him?”
The decision to attend Tuks is also rooted in Walaza’s admiration for the university’s legacy of producing top athletes, including Caster Semenya and LJ van Zyl.
“That’s one of the reasons, but there are a lot of reasons why I want to stay in Pretoria. I love it,” he said, highlighting the city’s importance in his journey.
Walaza’s academic plans include studying logistics at Tuks, a decision that allows him to pursue his tertiary education while continuing his athletics career at the university’s top-tier facilities.
Tuks, known for its strong athletic programme, has a history of nurturing South African sports talent, and Walaza hopes to add to that legacy.
