IN a stunning display of raw talent and unstoppable determination, 18-year-old Bayanda Walaza has set the track world ablaze, clinching gold in the under-20 men’s 100m and 200m at the World Championships in Lima, Peru. This electrifying victory comes mere weeks after his sensational Olympic debut in Paris, where he stormed to silver in the 4x100m relay.
The young phenom, dubbed “Wobble Wobble” for his unorthodox running style, proved that unconventional can indeed be unbeatable. With his head rocking and arms flailing, Walaza exploded from the blocks, stumbled, recovered and left his competitors in a cloud of dust as he powered down the track to claim victory in a blistering 10.19 seconds.
This triumph marks a meteoric rise for the Pretoria schoolboy, who has rapidly become South Africa’s new athletic sensation. From the hallways of Curro Hazeldean to the world stage, Walaza’s journey is nothing short of miraculous.
But Walaza’s golden moment was just the tip of the iceberg in what is shaping up to be a South African track and field renaissance. His Olympic teammate, 19-year-old Bradley Nkoana, clinched bronze in the same race, showcasing the depth of talent emerging from the Rainbow Nation.
As the sun sets on another day of competition in Lima, South Africa finds itself joint third on the medals table, with more finals on the horizon. The nation holds its breath as a new generation of track stars, including Viwe Jingqi, Udeme Okon, and Tumi Ramokgopa, prepare to leave their mark on the world stage.
With Walaza leading the charge, South Africa’s athletic future burns as bright as the African sun. The world has been put on notice: a new powerhouse is rising, and its name is South Africa.
South African 100m glory ??
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 29, 2024
Watch as Bayanda Walaza storms to the 100m gold with 10.19 ??#WorldAthleticsU20 pic.twitter.com/2f2ju9YcIc
