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The athletes who can end SA's medal drought at World Champs
Cape Argus
|September 12, 2025
IT’S been eight years since South Africa last won a medal at the World Athletics Championships.
After a spectacular showing at the 2017 event, the South Africans have returned home empty-handed from the last four editions of the world champs.
In 2017, South Africa won six medals, with Wayde van Niekerk (400m), Caster Semenya (800m) and Luvo Manyonga (long jump) all winning gold. Van Niekerk also claimed silver in the 200m, while Semenya (1,500m) and Ruswahl Samaai (long jump) brought home bronze.
Since then, Mzansi’s athletes haven't stood on the podium, but there is renewed optimism ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which begin in Tokyo this weekend.
2024 Paris Olympics silver medallist Akani Simbine will lead the 49-strong South African team, which also features track athletes such as 400m world record-holder Van Niekerk, 400m Olympic finalist Zakithi Nene, and 800m world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso.
This story is from the September 12, 2025 edition of Cape Argus.
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