Bayanda Walaza commits to stay with coach Thabo Matibedi

Known as Coach T, Matibedi began working with the 19-year-old Grade 12 learner last year, helping transform him into a rising star.

Walaza, a pupil at Curro Hazeldean High School in Tshwane, told SABC Sport that one of the biggest challenges for young athletes is changing coaches too often and assuming they've made it to the top after just a few strong performances.

He was greeted with a hero's welcome upon his arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday morning.

"I say the people lose it when they change coaches or they lose their well-being because even Letsile [Tebogo] sent me a message and he was like, after winning this double, he was true to me, he was like 'This is where we lose a lot of people'," Walaza.

"Just be you, don't change, focus and don't let temptation come into you and also just be true to yourself and everything will go your way. As I think, other people when they are in their process, they just rush the process. Like for now, maybe because now I’ve got two gold medals and then I start saying this is all I can do."

READ: How World Under-20 Championships silver medallist transitioned from high jump to sprinting

Walaza pointed out that one of the biggest mistakes he's seen other athletes make is forgetting their roots, which can jeopardize their careers.

He is determined to avoid this pitfall as he navigates his own promising career.

"If you have a strong mindset and you believe, you have belief and trust in everything, everything is just gonna go your way and if you have the strong team behind you and don't deny the people that started with you, don't neglect everyone who started with you. Everyone who started with you, be with them because those are the people that will make your life go much more easy."