Viwe Jingqi working hard to thrive in athletics at senior level

The 19-year-old, currently studying at the University of North West in Potchefstroom under the mentorship of renowned sprint coach Paul Gorries, clocked 11.57 seconds in the world final.

“I feel like, as South African women, we tend to get easily distracted. After being juniors, it’s no longer just about talent—hard work must become part of your identity as an athlete, and success doesn’t come easily. A lot of people give up on the hard work part. But for me, it's all about continuing to work hard and striving for even more after my junior achievements. I know it won’t get easier, but I’m ready to put in ten times the effort,” Jingqi told SABC Sport.

Jingqi confirmed to the national broadcaster that her participation in the South American championships marked her final appearance as a junior athlete.

Already a senior national champion, Jingqi highlighted the lack of female sprinters in the 100m and 200m events, her specialties.

Reflecting on the future, she stated, “The level of hard work will change for me moving forward. I’ll make sure I’m in a positive environment because that plays a huge role. If I’m surrounded by people who don’t push beyond their limits, it’ll hold me back. I want to be around those who recognize my potential and help me reach new heights, without limitations.”

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South Africa is quickly emerging as a strong contender in relay events, with the men's team securing a silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games—a result that has boosted the athletes’ confidence ahead of next year’s World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

However, Jingqi believes female sprinters are not receiving the same level of support as their male counterparts. “I’ll be honest, watching the men’s relay team win silver was inspiring. It shows the importance of teamwork and working together. But when was the last time we had a women’s 4x100m relay team? I think it’s been over five years. It would be amazing if we received the same backing as the men’s team. Support plays a huge role. Look at the men’s 4x100m Olympic team—if we had that kind of support, we could achieve the same. If Athletics South Africa isn’t paying attention to us, it’s hard to expect us to believe in ourselves,” Jingqi stressed.