Latest news with #BradleyNkoana
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Athletes return to OR Tambo after medal wins in China
Athletes return to OR Tambo after medal wins in China OR Tambo International Airport was filled with joy and celebration on May 14 as proud supporters, family, friends, and classmates welcomed home South Africa's medal-winning relay athletes. The team returned from the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China. The national team earned three medals, including gold in the men's 4x100m and 4x400m relays and bronze in the women's 4x400m final. In addition to the podium finishes, all three squads secured automatic qualification for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. ALSO READ: Cyclists get huge welcome at OR Tambo for Cape Town feat The mixed 4x400m team, which finished fifth in their event, also qualified. Athletics South Africa (ASA) president James Moloi praised the team's success, describing it as the result of a broader developmental plan. 'We are very excited because this is a long-term project, especially aimed at building up these young athletes. While Tokyo is our next target, we are building for Los Angeles,' he said. Moloi explained that ASA has a four-year development programme that includes rural and urban school competitions. 'We want to build a strong pipeline across all disciplines, especially the women's teams. We've also launched a broadcasting initiative and secured sponsorship for the full four-year cycle,' he added. He stressed the importance of continued investment in development. 'It's difficult to beat countries like the USA, Britain, and Jamaica. People assumed the SA team wouldn't win because of those strong competitors, but we proved them wrong.' ALSO READ: Paralympic medalists receive heroes' welcome at OR Tambo In the men's 4x100m relay, 19-year-old Bayanda Walaza teamed up with Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana, and Akani Simbine to record a blistering time of 37.61 seconds, the fastest of the year, beating the United States by just 0.05 seconds. Bayanda's mother, Tholiwe Walaza, was overwhelmed with pride. 'I'm very happy. They've done so well. Since primary school, Bayanda has been passionate about athletics. This is a dream come true,' she said. Bradley Nkoana's grandmother, Anna Nkoana, travelled from Mabopane to give her grandson a hero's welcome. 'I couldn't wait for this day. I called him every day while he was away. His passion started in primary school, and he's still going strong in university,' she said. In the men's 4x400m, the team of Gaerdeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer, and Zakithi Nene claimed gold with a time of 2 minutes and 57 seconds. Leendert Koekemoer's father, Lourens, proudly reflected on his son's journey. 'My son ran the third leg. It's amazing. Athletics in South Africa is in a healthy place right now. 'From junior to senior levels, there's great momentum. Leendert started with short-distance races, but everything changed when he switched to the 400m in Grade Eight. He's since won national titles and even broke a South African record this year.' ALSO READ: Meet the executive housekeeper of City Lodge at OR Tambo The women's 4x400m team, Shirley Nekhubui, Miranda Coetzee, Precious Melepo, and Zeney van der Walt, set a new national record on their way to securing the bronze medal. SASCOC president Barry Hendricks congratulated the team, saying: 'We're proud of you. You made us stand and scream at our TVs. 'The passion you showed has planted a seed of hope for many aspiring athletes. Our investment through the Operation Excellence programme has paid off.' Former South African sprinter Geraldine Pillay also praised the athletes. 'I'm incredibly proud of our athletes. They performed brilliantly and qualified for the World Championships, topping the medal rankings at the World Relays. This is a phenomenal moment for both the young stars and seasoned athletes like Akani Simbine. 'We wish the team all the best for the rest of the season, especially as they prepare for the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OR Tambo erupts in celebration as athletes return with medals from China
OR Tambo erupts in celebration as athletes return with medals from China OR Tambo International Airport was filled with joy and celebration on May 14 as proud supporters, family, friends, and classmates welcomed home South Africa's medal-winning relay athletes. The team returned from the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China. The national team earned three medals, including gold in the men's 4x100m and 4x400m relays and bronze in the women's 4x400m final. In addition to the podium finishes, all three squads secured automatic qualification for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. ALSO READ: Cyclists get huge welcome at OR Tambo for Cape Town feat The mixed 4x400m team, which finished fifth in their event, also qualified. Athletics South Africa (ASA) president James Moloi praised the team's success, describing it as the result of a broader developmental plan. 'We are very excited because this is a long-term project, especially aimed at building up these young athletes. While Tokyo is our next target, we are building for Los Angeles,' he said. Moloi explained that ASA has a four-year development programme that includes rural and urban school competitions. 'We want to build a strong pipeline across all disciplines, especially the women's teams. We've also launched a broadcasting initiative and secured sponsorship for the full four-year cycle,' he added. He stressed the importance of continued investment in development. 'It's difficult to beat countries like the USA, Britain, and Jamaica. People assumed the SA team wouldn't win because of those strong competitors, but we proved them wrong.' ALSO READ: Paralympic medalists receive heroes' welcome at OR Tambo In the men's 4x100m relay, 19-year-old Bayanda Walaza teamed up with Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nkoana, and Akani Simbine to record a blistering time of 37.61 seconds, the fastest of the year, beating the United States by just 0.05 seconds. Bayanda's mother, Tholiwe Walaza, was overwhelmed with pride. 'I'm very happy. They've done so well. Since primary school, Bayanda has been passionate about athletics. This is a dream come true,' she said. Bradley Nkoana's grandmother, Anna Nkoana, travelled from Mabopane to give her grandson a hero's welcome. 'I couldn't wait for this day. I called him every day while he was away. His passion started in primary school, and he's still going strong in university,' she said. In the men's 4x400m, the team of Gaerdeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer, and Zakithi Nene claimed gold with a time of 2 minutes and 57 seconds. Leendert Koekemoer's father, Lourens, proudly reflected on his son's journey. 'My son ran the third leg. It's amazing. Athletics in South Africa is in a healthy place right now. 'From junior to senior levels, there's great momentum. Leendert started with short-distance races, but everything changed when he switched to the 400m in Grade Eight. He's since won national titles and even broke a South African record this year.' ALSO READ: Meet the executive housekeeper of City Lodge at OR Tambo The women's 4x400m team, Shirley Nekhubui, Miranda Coetzee, Precious Melepo, and Zeney van der Walt, set a new national record on their way to securing the bronze medal. SASCOC president Barry Hendricks congratulated the team, saying: 'We're proud of you. You made us stand and scream at our TVs. 'The passion you showed has planted a seed of hope for many aspiring athletes. Our investment through the Operation Excellence programme has paid off.' Former South African sprinter Geraldine Pillay also praised the athletes. 'I'm incredibly proud of our athletes. They performed brilliantly and qualified for the World Championships, topping the medal rankings at the World Relays. This is a phenomenal moment for both the young stars and seasoned athletes like Akani Simbine. 'We wish the team all the best for the rest of the season, especially as they prepare for the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Akani Simbine leading next SA generation at World Relays
Akani Simbine From left, Shaun Maswanganyi is not in China, but Akani Simbine, Bradley Nkoana and Bayanda Walaza will lead the SA 4x100m team at the World Relays this weekend. Photo: AFP Image: AFP Claiming a silver medal at last year's Paris Olympics heralded a new era in South African sprinting, and they hope to go for gold at this year's world championships. But having achieved amazing success in the French capital, the road to the global event in Tokyo in September for Team South Africa will start this weekend at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China. Top of the medal chase for SA will be the men's 4x100m group, which will be led by Akani Simbine, and he will be supported by fellow Paris medallists Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana, as well as Sinesipho Dambile, Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Tsebo Matsoso. The men's 4x400m team includes current SA champion Zakithi Nene – who clocked a new personal best of 44.22 recently – as well as world junior 400m champion Udeme Okon, former world junior winner Lythe Pillay, Gardeo Isaacs, Tumisang Shezi and Mthi Mthimkulu. The women's 4x400m squad will be made up of Miranda Coetzee, Zeney Geldenhuys, Hannah van Niekerk, Shirley Nekhubui, Precious Molepo and Jada van Staden. Isaacs, Coetzee and Nekhubui will compete in the mixed 4x400m event, along with junior star Leendert Koekemoer. Simbine secured his first ever global individual medal in the 60m at the world indoor championships in China in March, and hopes to continue with his impressive season at the World Relays. 'Getting the individual medal was an important thing. It was important for my career and my confidence,' Simbine said during a press conference in China on Friday. 'But at the same time, I look at my career as just a statement of what athletics is: never giving up on your dreams, and always pushing to the finish line. 'For me, it's always been about showing up, starting the season, and always trying to be the best I can in that season. 'Yes, I've been always coming fourth and falling short, but that has never taken away from the experience of what I want to do in the sport – that is improving myself and becoming a better athlete. 'Becoming the best sprinter I can become. In that, comes the medals, and to be able to run consistently at a high level over 11 years. That was the important thing in my career.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading But the 31-year-old SA record-holder, who finished fourth in the 100m Paris Olympic final with a new national mark of 9.82, is keen to help develop the next generation. Walaza is the 100m and 200m world junior champion, and the 19-year-old will hope to pick up some tips from Simbine as he takes in the experience of running in China. 'It was very important for us, as we actually believed that we could win – that we could come out with a medal,' Simbine said. 'That was something that was over years that we were building. We always believed we had a team that could get a medal, but it was just that we couldn't put it together.
TimesLIVE
06-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
SA's Olympic medal 4x100m team 'needs to step it up' at World Relays
The South African men's 4x100m team that won silver at the Paris Olympics needs to step it up at World Relays in China this weekend, says Bradley Nkoana, who ran the third leg at the Stade de France last year. He was talking at the relay camp in Johannesburg on Tuesday before the bulk of the team — which features several members of the national under-20 squad from last year — flies to Guangzhou on Wednesday afternoon. 'We're going to have to step up at some point,' Nkoana said. 'We won't just relax and be like 'oh, we won a silver medal, we're entitled to win another one'. 'We have to step up our game and show up and be the best on the day.' Nkoana is one of three survivors from Paris, alongside Bayanda Walaza and Akani Simbine. The trio competed with Shaun Maswanganyi in France and with Benjamin Richardson at the 2024 World Relays, where they won Olympic qualification.
