Team South Africa at the 2025 World Athletics Championships: A Story of Resilience, Near Misses, and a Bronze Breakthrough

The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo unfolded over nine days of high drama, elite performances, and unforgettable moments. For South Africa, the event became a narrative of grit, heartbreak, and eventual triumph. Although the final medal tally showed just one bronze, the journey to that solitary medal was packed with inspiring performances, personal milestones, and the unmistakable sense that South African athletics is regaining its footing on the global stage.

Image: Team SA

Early Rounds and Building Momentum

From the first days, South African athletes were determined to make their presence felt. In the men’s discus qualifications, seasoned campaigner Victor Hogan threw a best of 61.51 m. It was a respectable mark but left him 14th in Group A, just shy of a place in the final. For Hogan, a veteran of the sport, it was another reminder of how slim the margins are at world level.

Meanwhile, in the men’s 20 km race walk, Wayne Snyman produced a season’s best time of 1:30:12, finishing 43rd overall. While far from medal contention, the result was a personal high point. At 39 years old, Snyman’s determination to deliver his best on the global stage highlighted the enduring spirit of South African athletes, even in disciplines where the country has not traditionally excelled.

The women’s shot put qualifications brought another cluster of South Africans into action. Miné de Klerk, Ashley Erasmus, and Colette Uys all competed, though none advanced to the final. De Klerk’s 17.39 m earned her 13th in Group A, Erasmus managed 16.90 m, and Uys recorded 16.68 m. Despite missing the cut, all three athletes added crucial international exposure that will strengthen their progression in seasons to come.

Sprinting Surprises and Rising Talents

The sprint events provided some of the most thrilling moments for Team SA. Sinesipho Dambile, just 21 years old, captured attention in the men’s 200 m. After blazing to a personal best of 19.97 seconds in the semifinals, Dambile lined up against giants of the sport in the final. Though he couldn’t dip under 20 seconds again, finishing 8th in 20.23 seconds, his presence in the final itself was a statement.

The race was dominated by the United States’ Noah Lyles, who stormed to gold in 19.52 seconds, equalling Usain Bolt’s record of four consecutive world titles. For Dambile, though, the experience was invaluable, proof that he belongs on the same stage as the sport’s elite, and a foundation to build on as he matures.

In the men’s 100 m, South Africa fielded two finalists: Gift Leotlela, who placed 5th with 9.95 seconds, and Akani Simbine, who finished 7th in 10.04. Both ran superb races, but the medal eluded them. Nonetheless, the dual presence in the final underscored South Africa’s depth in sprinting, particularly at a time when global competition in the 100 m is at its fiercest.

The 400 m also brought encouraging results. Zakithi Nene ran brilliantly to finish 5th in the men’s final with 44.55 seconds, while Lythe Pillay reached the semifinals. These results, while not podium finishes, highlighted a new generation ready to uphold the legacy once set by Wayde van Niekerk.

Image: Team SA

Relay Hopes and Challenges

Relays are often unpredictable, and South Africa’s campaign in Tokyo was no exception. The women’s 4 × 400 m relay team ran bravely in their heats but finished 7th in 3:28.14, falling short of the final. The absence of South Africa’s women in the 4 × 100 m relay was also felt.

On the men’s side, the 4 × 100 m relay squad had a rollercoaster experience. Led by Akani Simbine, they suffered a botched baton exchange during their initial heat, prompting an official protest. The team was granted a rare solo re-run the next morning, clocking 38.64 seconds. Unfortunately, they needed 38.34 seconds to qualify, leaving them agonisingly short of the final.

Yet the disappointment in the short relay set the stage for redemption in the longer one.

The Javelin Agony

Another focal point of South Africa’s campaign was the women’s javelin throw, where Jo-Ané du Plessis emerged as a strong medal contender. After a 61.38 m throw in qualification, she entered the final brimming with confidence.

On the day, Du Plessis produced her season’s best effort, 63.06 m. For a fleeting moment, it seemed enough for bronze. But Australia’s Mackenzie Little managed 63.58 m, edging Du Plessis down to 4th. It was a heartbreaking miss by barely half a meter.

Her devastation was visible, but so too was her progress. The narrow miss showed she is on the cusp of the world’s elite, and her performance remains one of South Africa’s standout results from Tokyo.

The Bronze Breakthrough: Men’s 4 × 400 m Relay

The defining moment of South Africa’s championships came on the final evening. The men’s 4 × 400 m relay team, comprising Lythe Pillay, Udeme Okon, Wayde van Niekerk, and Zakithi Nene, delivered a race that will be remembered for years.

In torrential rain, the South Africans fought tooth and nail against the best in the world. Van Niekerk, running the third leg, rolled back the years with a blistering 43.27-second split, the fastest of the entire race. Nene, anchoring the team, hurled himself across the finish line in a photo finish.

The clock read 2:57.83, identical to the United States. By just two thousandths of a second, the Americans claimed silver, with Botswana snatching gold in 2:57.76. South Africa had to settle for bronze, but it was a bronze that carried the weight of redemption.

It ended an eight-year medal drought at the World Championships for South Africa. It gave Van Niekerk his first world medal since 2017, vindicating his long recovery from injury. And it proved that South Africa’s relay depth, including alternates Leendert Koekemoer and Gardeo Isaacs who had run in the heats, is world class.

Image: Team SA

Other Notable Performances

Several other South Africans made their mark in finals or delivered record-setting performances:

• Tshepo Tshite reached the men’s 1500 m final, finishing 9th.

• Adriaan Wildschutt placed 10th in the men’s 10,000 m.

• The mixed 4 × 400 m relay team not only reached the final but also set a new African record of 3:11.16 in the heats, finishing 6th overall.

These results, combined with multiple personal and season’s bests across the squad, reflected progress that goes beyond the medal table.

Final Medal Table and Ranking

At the close of the championships, South Africa stood with one bronze medal, the men’s 4 × 400 m relay, finishing in a tie for 39th place on the overall medal standings. Fifty-three nations won medals in Tokyo, and South Africa was among them.

While the count may appear modest, it marked a significant improvement on the barren runs of recent years, where South Africa had left championships without a single podium.

Looking Forward

For South African athletics, the 2025 World Championships were more than just numbers. They represented a turning point, a return to the medal table, a reminder of the nation’s sprinting pedigree, and a glimpse of the new generation rising.

From Dambile’s breakthrough in the 200 m, to Du Plessis’s near miss in the javelin, and the heroic bronze in the men’s 4 × 400 m relay, Tokyo 2025 will be remembered as a campaign that reignited belief.

The road ahead leads to Paris 2027 and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. If the performances in Tokyo are any indication, Team South Africa has the talent, depth, and resilience to climb higher in the years to come.

Final Word

South Africa may have left Tokyo with just one medal, but it was one of the most hard-fought bronzes in the country’s athletics history. The championships proved that the rainbow nation’s athletes are not far from turning near misses into gold, and that the next chapter of South African athletics is only just beginning.

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