Letsile Tebogo’s advice to rising star Bayanda Walaza

At just 19, Walaza has already accomplished what many only dream of — winning an Olympic silver medal in the 4x100m relay and securing double gold in the 100m and 200m at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima last year.

Now a first-year Supply Chain Management student at the Tshwane University of Technology, Walaza has qualified for the World Senior Championships in Tokyo, Japan, where he is set to compete in both the 100m and 200m events later this year. Despite his rapid rise, Botswana’s Tebogo has cautioned him against rushing into senior competition too soon, urging him instead to progress gradually through the junior ranks to build a solid foundation for senior-level success.

"I just hope that he is not under pressure to get into the senior ranks, he should go step by step going forward and also just take it easy because if he tries to push himself and force himself into the seniors, it won't take him long and then he'll be out of the game and then South Africa and Africa are going to look for a new Walaza,” Tebogo said.

“With that, I've seen it causes a lot of depression, anxiety and all those type of things to the athlete so I just hope that and prays he listens and he continues his way."

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Although the reigning World Athletics Athlete of the Year has yet to speak with Walaza directly, he is aware of his remarkable rise and journey to the top.

Based on what he's heard, he believes the teenager is a good listener, someone who will be open to advice from the experienced athletes who have paved the way before him.

"Yes, I have heard about him, he's a good boy, I'm happy that he listens to the advice that the senior guys are giving him and he's really coming up great," he added.

The 23-year-old, who sees himself as one of the few athletes to successfully transition from junior to senior level, has cautioned against rushing young talent into the senior ranks too soon.

He believes his own progression followed the correct stages and that he was given the proper time and support to develop into a senior athlete.

"How many juniors are there that were there in 2016 to 2021, up to 2022? I'm the only one who survived and who got into the senior ranks and still going. So, they wanted to rush the process of getting to the senior category, so that's what kills most of them."