Walaza joins sprint legends with World University Games 100m victory
South African sprinting prodigy Bayanda Walaza has burst onto the international scene with a gold medal win in the men’s 100m race at the FISU World University Games held in Germany. The 19-year-old, who studies Humanities in the Faculty of Management Sciences at Tshwane University of Technology, clocked an electrifying 10.16 seconds despite entering the competition with limited preparation.
‘I convinced myself that I am a warrior and a fighter,” Walaza told SABC, expressing pride in claiming the title of fastest university athlete in the world.
His win places him in esteemed company alongside previous South African champions Akani Simbine and Anaso Jobodwana, and confirms his status as one of the most promising young talents in global athletics.
After impressive sub-10-second finishes earlier in the year, Walaza overcame the pressure and a series of false starts to defeat competitors from Thailand and Japan.
To focus on bigger goals, Walaza has decided to forgo the upcoming U-20 African Championships in Abuja, setting his sights instead on the World Championships in Tokyo and the prestigious Diamond League series.
