From Setback to Glory – Walaza Reflects on South Africa’s Sprint Relay Success

Image: AFP / Getty Images, courtesy of World Athletics

World Under-20 100m champion Bayanda Walaza has spoken candidly about the fears he once had, worries that could have jeopardized the success of South Africa’s relay team.

Despite securing a silver medal in the relay at Paris 2024, Walaza had faced disappointment after being disqualified from the 200m final at the national championships.

However, he expressed deep admiration for his teammates Akani Simbine, Bradley Nkoana, and Sinesipho Dambile commending their response during the competition in Guangzhou.

The world Under-20 200m champion, Bayanda Walaza, delivered a stunning first-leg performance for South Africa in the final, edging out the United States by a mere 0.05 seconds to secure gold in the People’s Republic of China. His victory, however, came with a dramatic twist, Walaza was initially flagged for a false start but was ultimately given a lifeline when the call was overturned by a green flag.

Reflecting on the nerve-wracking moment after their historic triumph, Walaza revealed his worst fears. He shared with Olympics.com how his teammates jokingly told him he had given them a "heart attack." What he appreciated most, however, was their unwavering support.

“They’re not the kind of people who will make you feel down or disappointed,” he said. “Even when they approached me, they kept their cool and simply said, ‘Next time, don’t do that.’ We joked about it, but deep down, I wasn’t feeling great.”

Walaza further detailed the sequence of events that nearly led to disaster. “Fear overtook my body," he admitted.

"But at that moment, I truly believed we could win this. I was so excited and anxious that adrenaline took over, and I lost control for a second. I just wanted to explode off the blocks because I knew we had the capability to take gold.”

Looking ahead, Walaza is optimistic about South Africa’s chances in the men’s 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, set to take place from 12 to 21 September.

“I believe this medal is the key to making my season even stronger,” he stated confidently. “I don’t see myself as a loser, I see myself as a winner.

We won there, and everywhere I go, I carry this gold medal, proving that I’m among the best in the world.”

At just 19 years old, Walaza has already demonstrated his ability to compete against the world’s elite. With time on his side, the young sprinter who previously secured bronze in the 100m at the African U18 Championships in April 2023 has been widely tipped for greatness in the years to come.