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Team SA Men’s 4 x 100m and Men’s 4 x 400m relay teams have claimed GOLD, while the Women’s 4 x 400m relay team claimed bronze at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China
It was a day to remember for Team South Africa at the World Athletics Relays Championships in China, with three relay teams securing podium finishes – bringing home medals – while all squads successfully qualified for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year.
South Africa’s campaign began with the Mixed 4x400m relay, where the team, led by Shirley Shezi and Hannah Van Niekerk, put up a strong fight but finished fifth (3:16.29) behind powerhouses the USA, Australia, Kenya, and Great Britain.
Next up, the Men’s 4x100m team delivered a stunning gold-medal performance in a world-leading time of 37.61 seconds.
The quartet – Bayanda Walaza, Sinesipho Dambile, Bradley Nokana, and anchor Akani Simbine – executed flawless baton exchanges, with Simbine’s blistering final leg sealing the victory ahead of the USA and Canada.
🇿🇦 ℕ𝕆 𝔻ℕ𝔸, 𝕁𝕌𝕊𝕋 ℝ𝕊𝔸 🇿🇦
Team SA 🇿🇦 Men’s 4 x 100m and Men’s 4 x 400m relay teams have claimed GOLD 🥇, while the Women’s 4 x 400m relay team claimed bronze at the #WorldRelays in Guangzhou, China.#SABCSportAthletics pic.twitter.com/qHrJ25huIn
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) May 11, 2025
National record
The Women’s 4x400m team made history, smashing the South African record (3:24.84) to claim bronze.
Shirley Nekhubuni, Miranda Coetzee, Precious Molepo, and Zeney Van Der Walt held their nerve against stiff competition, finishing behind Spain and the USA.
Capping off an unforgettable day, the Men’s 4x400m relay team – Zakithi Nene, Udeme Okon, Lythe Pillay, and Mthi Mthimkhulu – stormed to gold (2:57.50), outpacing Belgium and Botswana in a commanding display.
Tokyo
While the Mixed 4x400m team narrowly missed the podium, all four South African squads secured their spots for the World Championships in Tokyo, setting the stage for another thrilling chapter in the nation’s athletics legacy.
