Pretoria’s super schoolboy athlete, Bayanda Walaza, lived up to his reputation as the world’s fastest teenager when he was crowned 100m champion at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru on Thursday morning. Pretoria Rekord spoke to his coach about the young athlete’s future.

The 18-year-old Walaza won Thursday’s race in a time of 10.19s, while another South African and former Tuks Sports School pupil, Bradley Nkoana, won the bronze medal in a time of 10.26s. Nkoana is currently a student at the North West University in Potchefstroom.

South African 100m glory ‼️

Watch as Bayanda Walaza storms to the 100m gold with 10.19 🔥#WorldAthleticsU20 pic.twitter.com/2f2ju9YcIc

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 29, 2024

Walaza destined for athlete stardom

Walaza and Nkoana’s achievement comes less than one month after they were part of the South African men’s 4x100m relay team, which won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris.

With this performance in Peru, Walaza proved that he has the physical and mental ability to become a superstar on the athletics track.

The Curro Hazeldean school matriculant’s social and official schedule has been extremely busy since he returned from the Olympic Games.

After having a hero’s reception at his school, where he shared the glory of his Olympic medal with his schoolmates and his mother, he had to plan his time carefully to leave for Peru with the SA juniors a week later.

Meanwhile, there were a lot of media interviews and social invitations by dignitaries and sponsors.

To become junior world champion, he had to get back on the athletics track to train as soon as possible, he also had to prepare for the matric prelim exam which awaits him when he returns from South America.

Plans to join University of Pretoria next year

Walaza’s coach Thabo Matebedi, who is known among his athletes as ‘Coach T’, told Rekord that this young star has a particularly ‘strong head’.

“He is sometimes just a teenage boy, who likes to eat hamburgers and relax among his friends. But when he trains, he does it with dedication,” said Matebedi.

Matebedi revealed that Walaza, who can pick and choose among the local and international offers he has already received, has chosen to enrol as a student at the University of Pretoria next year. One of the most important reasons is that he still wants to train under Matebedi’s guidance.

According to Matebedi, Walaza can soon break through the 10s barrier and he believes that in the future this young star can also challenge Akani Smibine’s SA record of 9.82s.

“Sprinters only reach their best form between 25 and 30. If Bayanda can stay injury-free and committed, I believe he can make the SA record his own in the future,” Matebedi noted.

South African sprinter Bayanda Walaza won the 100m final at the U20 World Championships in Peru on Thursday morning

Walaza stormed to gold in a time of 10.19 seconds pic.twitter.com/sMn48ilRQu

— News Live SA (@newslivesa) August 29, 2024

Walaza thanks Curro for support

After his triumph in Peru, Walaza thanked Curro for making it possible for his coach to travel with him to the Olympic Games where his preparations for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships continued alongside his work with Team SA.

“This year my goal was to do well at the Junior World Championships. I always travel with Coach T and I would like to thank my school for all the support they have given me. My school pays for him to travel with me, which helps me not to panic.

“So, for example, I was going to panic if I had to go to Paris alone, but thankfully Coach T was with me because I still had to do my sessions for the World Championships,” Walaza concluded.