Athletes who perform well at youth or junior level usually don’t reach the lofty heights expected of them at senior level, for various reasons, but if pure talent is anything to go by, South African athletics is facing a potential golden age. Following a memorable period between 2012 and 2017 which saw a handful of local stars shining at the highest level, the nation experienced a slump, failing to secure medals at major global championships until the drought was broken when javelin thrower Jo-Ane van Dyk and the national men’s 4x100m relay team stepped on the podium at last year’s Paris Olympics . And while some younger senior athletes are showing real potential, the next generation could break new ground.
The current crop of junior athletes are phenomenally talented. Sprinters and hurdlers Bayanda Walaza made waves last year, winning the 100m/200m double at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, and he will again turn out in the junior division this season. Equally promising are the likes of 17-year-old athletes Tumi Ramokgopa, Njabulo Mbatha and Matodzi Ndou, who are already shattering the ceiling in their age groups.
Last year, Ramokgopa broke the national youth girls record in the 400m hurdles, clocking 47.04 seconds to finish third in the final of the SA Senior Championships at the age of 16, while Mbatha is showing similar potential in the boys’ 400m hurdles event, having finished fourth at last year’s World Athletics U20 Championships at the age of 1.
