In the aftermath of South Africa’s historic 4x100m relay silver at the Paris Olympics, a new generation of sprinting sensations has emerged from the rainbow nation. But while their talent is undeniable, these rising stars are taking a decidedly different path than many of their predecessors – opting to stay and train at home rather than chasing the American college track & field dream.
Homegrown Heroes
Leading the charge are the likes of Bayanda Walaza and Udeme Okon. Still in their teens, both have already made serious waves on the global athletics scene. Walaza, who incredibly won Olympic silver while still in high school, has been inundated with offers from US colleges eager to secure his prodigious talents.
But in a move that stunned many, Walaza revealed he would be enrolling at the University of Pretoria to continue his meteoric rise on home soil, under the guidance of his long-time coach Thabo Matebedi. As Walaza explained:
“South Africa has all the equipment that we need for people to be fast. We have fast people here. Even Akani Simbine – the best sprinter that we have in South Africa – never went to the USA.”
– Bayanda Walaza
It’s a sentiment echoed by Okon, the reigning U20 world 400m champion. Also entering his final year of high school, Okon has already begun training with the athletics club of the University of Johannesburg, where he seems likely to enroll after graduation despite interest from abroad.
Bucking the Trend
This marks a notable shift from the well-trodden path of South African sprinters heading stateside to develop their craft. Recent stars like Shaun Maswanganyi, now a senior at the University of Houston under the tutelage of legend Carl Lewis, have illustrated the benefits of the US collegiate system.
But Walaza and Okon are part of a new school of thought, one that recognizes the immense progress of South African athletics and values the comforts of home. The ability to stick with trusted local coaches, access to improved (if not quite American-level) facilities, and the desire to be a flagbearer for the continued rise of African sprinting all seem to be swaying factors.
Motivated by Underestimation
There also appears to be an underlying chip on the shoulder of these young guns and their coaches. A sense that for too long, African sprinters have been underestimated and overlooked. Now, empowered by trail-blazing stars like Akani Simbine and Botswana’s Tebogo Letsile, they are determined to prove the world wrong – and do it their own way.
“I feel like as Africans, we get looked down on, so we want to come out and show the people that even though we’re from Africa, we will come out and do our best.”
– Udeme Okon
It’s a powerful sentiment that Walaza expands on:
“The whole African [continent] is underestimated when it comes to athletics. The way I see things, I think the USA and Jamaica are the countries they always put in front…I feel like if brands give themselves away to African countries and support African people, we can be on the same level [as the traditional sprinting superpowers].”
– Bayanda Walaza
The Future is African
Whether training at home or abroad, one thing is clear: African sprinting is on the rise, and South Africa is leading the charge. With a potent mix of supreme talent, unwavering self-belief, and a growing refusal to follow the status quo, stars like Walaza and Okon seem destined to spearhead this movement to incredible heights.
Only time will tell if more and more of their compatriots choose to follow in their footsteps and stay home to build on recent successes. But if they do, and if they can continue to shatter records and expectations, we may be witnessing the dawn of an era where the words “sprint superpower” become synonymous not just with the USA or Jamaica, but with South Africa and the African continent as a whole.
