Bayanda Walaza: Top things you did not know about U20 100m world champion
The South African sprinting sensation is adding more silverware to his trophy cabinet which includes a Paris 2024 medal. Find out about the young sprinter with the unorthodox running style.
South Africa’s newfound sprinting star Bayanda Walaza has capped an incredible year adding the World under-20 100m title to his Olympic silver medal from Paris 2024.
The 18-year-old Walaza stormed to victory at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima winning his country’s first gold medal in the blue-riband event at the global showpiece.
Here are some top facts that you might not know about South Africa’s rising star.
Bayanda Walaza: Teenage Olympic silver medallist
The schoolboy sprinter came into the World U20 Championships boasting some serious bling with the Olympic silver he won with the South African 4x100m relay team at Paris 2024.
Walaza ran the leadoff leg in the final at the recent Games with former African record-holder and three-time 100m finalist Akani Simbine anchoring the team to the country’s first medal in the event. Simbine took the baton across the line in an African record time of 37.57 seconds finishing behind the victorious Canadians.
The youngster played an equally key role in the team qualifying for Paris at the World Relays in the Bahamas earlier in the year.
“It is kind of scary! When I go back to school everybody would be like whaahhhh!” Walaza said after winning the silver.
“I am truly happy to be in this team and appreciate being here.”
Walaza burst onto the local scene clocking a blistering 10.13s at the South African junior championships before finishing second behind Simbine at senior nationals.
Bayanda Walaza: Function over style
The teen sensation has grabbed headlines with his unorthodox style which earned him the nickname, “Wobble Wobble”.
Once out of the driving phase, Walaza’s running style is akin to a windmill as he powers towards the line with his arms flailing.
The style may not be pretty but has held him in good stead with his coach Thabo Matebedi reluctant to tinker with his running mechanics.
“If you look at his arms, he always starts doing that after 60 metres, 70m, so I’m not going to change [that] because his arms, his brain and his body, that’s how they’re connected,” Matebedi told the Sunday Times.
“That is his survival mechanism ... other guys are coming for him so his brain says: ‘I need to survive this, I’m under pressure’.
“If you change it, you are taking away his survival tool, so we’re not going to change that. He’s running fast in that style, so you can’t fix something that is not broken.”
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Bayanda Walaza, Shaun Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine of Team South Africa celebrates winning the gold medal in the Men's 4x100m Relay Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Bayanda Walaza: A witness to his father’s death
The sprightly Walaza has overcome devastating trauma in his young life after witnessing his father being shot to death during an argument.
He was just 10 years old at the time of the tragedy which left lasting emotional scars on Walaza.
“He lost his father in a violent fight, when his dad got shot. He experienced all that. After that it was tough. As a mother I had to do something,” his mother, Tholiwe Walaza told IOL Sport.
“I went for counselling and for social workers to help. It’s something that was so bad. After we buried his father, he was going for counselling.”
Bayanda Walaza: Winning during a time of chaos
Walaza has shown immense resilience during a time when most of his peers are focusing on their final year of school.
Shortly after returning from the Olympics, Walaza sat for his preliminary matric exams at Curro Hazeldean High School in Pretoria before jetting off halfway around the world to compete in Peru.
Walaza brushed off the pressure and performed with aplomb winning the 100m title in a time of 10.19s with Puripol Boonson of Thailand finishing second in 10.22s.
To add to the occasion, Walaza shared the podium with compatriot Bradley Nkoana, who was also part of South Africa’s silver medal-winning team at Paris 2024.
"This is special, especially for my people from South Africa, this means a lot," Walaza said after his win in Peru.
"This is an extremely emotional moment for me. This was the best thing – I have never felt like this before. Okay, the Olympics. But this one, it’s about me! It feels special."
Once the championships are over, Walaza will have to face reality as he has to prepare for the final months of his school career.