Bradley Nkoana sets sights on World Champs, World Student Games

A world under-20 100m bronze medallist, Nkoana has yet to finalise his race schedule with coach Paul Garries but has shared some of his plans for the 2025 season with SABC Sport. 

Nkoana is determined to make his mark in the senior ranks, and aims to compete on the global stage, starting with the Student Games in Germany in July.

"Right now, I can't say because everything needs to be planned with my coach, I just know that when I open my season, I'll be ready and sharp, and I'll be healthy," said Nkoana.

"The biggest goal is to go to the World Champs, but I think I'll still be running under-23s and there's USSA's [University Sport South Africa] as well, and there's also World Students Games, so I'm hoping to qualify for that and show I'm still one of the best."

Nkoana also opened up on his relationship with Gorries, who was instrumental in Team SA’s 4x100m relay silver medal at the Paris Olympics last year.

"Training with Coach Paul is fun because now we have a personal relationship, and the dynamic works – he understands me and I understand him, and when we get to work, everything else switches off and it's purely about work," he added.

"There's no favours, there's no feeling sorry for me because I'm sad or anything like that, it's just purely work – he's always pushing me to do better.

"He believes in me, he knows the potential I have, and he knows the athlete that I can be, and he's pushing me towards being that athlete, and he always reminds me to be humble.

"So he's one of the best things that has ever happened in my career, and I'm hoping to work with him in the future."

READ: Why Prudence Sekgodiso will not double at World Champs