South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza delivered a sensational performance on Wednesday night at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
Story Summary:
- Bayanda Walaza secures gold in the men’s 100m final at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima.
- Walaza, who entered with the seventh-fastest personal best, dominated the race to finish in 10.19 seconds.
- Fellow South African Bradley Nkoana took bronze in the same event, while Viwe Jingqi competed in the women’s 100m final.
Bayanda Walaza stomps his authority as the fastest teen on the planet
Competing in the men’s 100m final, Walaza, who had come in with the seventh-fastest personal best among the finalists, stormed to victory with a time of 10.19 seconds, clinching the gold medal.
His powerful start set the tone for the race, allowing him to take control early and maintain his lead to the finish line.
Thailand’s Puripol Boonson secured the silver medal with a time of 10.22 seconds, while Bradley Nkoana, Walaza’s compatriot and pre-event favourite, rounded out the podium with a bronze medal in 10.26 seconds.
This success further enhances the prospects for South Africa’s 4x100m relay team, which will see both Walaza and Nkoana competing later in the championships.
Walaza’s victory in Lima adds to a remarkable year for the young sprinter, who was part of the South African 4x100m relay team that won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In that event, Walaza, alongside Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi, and Bradley Nkoana, set an African record with a time of 37.57 seconds.
Born in 2006, Bayanda Walaza has quickly risen through the ranks to establish himself as one of South Africa’s premier sprinting talents.
His personal best in the 100m stands at 10.13 seconds, a mark he set earlier in 2024 in Pretoria.
In addition to his achievements in the 100m, Walaza has also posted a personal best of 20.34 seconds in the 200m, showcasing his versatility as a sprinter.
As the World Athletics U20 Championships progress in Lima, another South African team is gearing up for competition at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
Team South Africa’s Paralympic campaign began on Thursday, 29 August 2024, with athletes competing in archery, para-swimming, and boccia.
Shaun Anderson, a three-time Paralympian, is competing in the men’s W1 individual ranking round in archery, while Karabo Morapedi and Elanza Jordaan make their Paralympic debuts in Boccia.
Meanwhile, in the pool, Nathan Hendricks is eyeing a spot in the final of the men’s 100m butterfly S13.
