ASA chief James Moloi lauds remarkable teenager Bayanda Walaza

 The 19-year-old achieved a historic sprint double by winning gold in both the 100m and 200m finals, capping off an exceptional year.

Just a few weeks prior, he was the youngest member of the South African 4x100m relay team that secured a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris.

A Grade 12 student at Curro High School, Walaza has become the first junior sprinter to achieve this feat since British athlete Christian Malcolm in 1998.

In the 200m final, Walaza clocked 20.52 seconds to claim gold, finishing ahead of Australia's Gout Gout, who recorded 20.60 seconds, while Jake Odey-Jordan of Great Britain took third with a time of 20.81 seconds.

According to Moloi, the future of track and field in South Africa is promising. In his interview with SABC Sport, Moloi expressed his commitment to nurturing young talent. “We are proud of Bayanda Walaza,” he stated. “His achievements highlight the progress being made in South Africa. Bayanda has accomplished remarkable feats and has a bright future ahead. We’re thrilled that he’s showcasing our country on the global stage. We will develop a support system to assist him and other athletes, ensuring they can represent South Africa at the 2028 Olympics in the US and beyond,” Moloi added.

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Moloi attended the Paris event to witness Walaza's silver medal victory and was confident that Walaza would excel in Peru.

He was not surprised by Walaza's continued dominance in South Africa. “After watching him compete against senior athletes in Paris, I was certain he was destined for greatness. The boy is exceptional and has tremendous potential; he just needs the right support structure to help him succeed,” Moloi added.