Sprinter Bradley Nkoana reflects on an amazing year

At the start of the season, his focus was solely on securing a podium finish at the World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru.

The 20-year-old first-year student at the University of Potchefstroom, North West Province, accomplished that by earning a bronze medal—an achievement he had worked toward all year.

However, taking home a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at his debut Olympic Games in Paris last month was beyond his wildest dreams.

On Wednesday, Nkoana returned from Lima with high spirits and a sense of pride, receiving a hero’s welcome in Tshwane, his hometown.

READ: Bayanda Walaza chooses University of Pretoria over the USA

Reflecting on a year that exceeded his greatest expectations, he couldn’t help but pinch himself to make sure it wasn’t a dream.

“I'm thrilled to have ended my season on a high note, though there's always room for improvement. Overall, I'm grateful for an incredible year. Competing against the world's top sprinters and finishing as the third fastest in the world for 2024 is a significant achievement for me. I also want to take a moment to celebrate Bayanda Walaza, the world champion, who claimed first place in the 100m final while I secured third. His outstanding performances motivate me to elevate my game for next year,” Nkoana shared with the national broadcaster.

For Nkoana, the primary focus was on the World Junior Championships, with the Olympics considered a pleasant extra.

His main goal now is to compete in the next Olympics, scheduled for Los Angeles in 2028.

“The Olympics was more about ticking a box, and coming back with a silver medal was a huge bonus. As a junior, my goal was to excel at the World Juniors, and I’m thrilled to have achieved that with a medal,” Nkoana said.

Nkoana and Walaza are friends, and while many compare the two sprinters, Nkoana feels it's unfair to judge them against each other due to their differing running styles.

Despite their similar times and performances, Nkoana believes their individual approaches are what make them unique.