Rhine-Ruhr, Germany – July 21, 2025
South African sprint star Bayanda Walaza delivered a composed and commanding performance to secure the gold medal in the men’s 100m final at the 2025 FISU World University Games, clocking an impressive 10.16 seconds in a tightly contested race.
The 22-year-old Walaza edged out Thailand’s Puripol Boonson, who claimed silver in 10.22, while Japan’s Hiroki Yanagita secured bronze with 10.23, as mere hundredths of a second separated the top three finishers in what proved to be one of the most thrilling sprint finals of the competition.
Earlier in the evening, Walaza had safely navigated his semifinal heat, winning in 10.31 despite a tense build-up marred by two false starts — one of which led to a disqualification. The tension was compounded by the earlier disqualification of two South African athletes, making Walaza’s composure under pressure even more commendable. His semifinal time was the second fastest overall, narrowly behind Boonson, who had signaled his threat with the quickest qualifying time.
Speaking after his victory, a visibly emotional Walaza wrapped in the South African flag reflected on his journey:
“Winning for me is an achievement, and every win means something. I’m very grateful for each person who supported me and to all my competitors,” he said. “We’ve been preparing since January. My team stayed focused, and we worked hard. I came here for experience. I like the culture, the people are respectful, and I’m really enjoying my time here.”
Joining Walaza in the final was fellow South African Kyle Zinn, who impressed throughout the rounds. Zinn won his opening heat comfortably and earned his place in the final, starting alongside Walaza in lane six. He ultimately finished fifth with a time of 10.42, a commendable performance in a world-class field.
Walaza’s victory marked South Africa’s third medal in athletics on the day, underscoring the growing strength and depth in the country’s next generation of track and field athletes. As the current stars of South African athletics begin to transition, emerging talents like Walaza and Zinn are already proving they are more than ready to carry the baton forward.
