Sheryl James Secures South Africa’s First Medal at World Para Athletics Championships

Delhi, India – 28 September 2025
South Africa has opened its medal tally at the World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi, thanks to a brilliant performance from sprinter Sheryl James, who claimed bronze in the women’s 400m T37 final on Day 3 of competition.

James clocked 1:06.21 to secure her podium finish, with teammate Liezel Gouws also impressing by placing 5th in a season’s best 1:07.13. Gold went to Ukraine’s Nataliia Kobzar, while Russian athlete Viktoriia Slanova, competing as a neutral para-athlete, took silver.

Reflecting on the performance, James’s medal marks a strong start for Team South Africa, who have sent a 15-strong squad to this year’s championships.

South Africa’s Early Highlights

South Africa’s presence was felt from the very first day of competition.

Collen Mahlalela qualified for the men’s 100m T47 final, in which he finished 8th with a time of 11.21. He will return to the track later this week in the men’s 400m T47.
Liezel Gouws has already had a busy championship, finishing 5th in the women’s long jump T37 on Day 1 and lining up for further challenges in the 100m and 200m T37 events in the coming days.
On Day 3, Puseletso Mabote narrowly missed out on a podium place in the men’s long jump T63 final. Despite finishing outside the medals, Mabote set a new African record with a leap of 7.01m. He will be back on the track in the men’s 100m T63, where he will look to build on this momentum.

Looking Ahead

James is far from done with her Delhi campaign. The bronze medallist will return to action in the women’s T37 100m, where she will aim to add to her success. With six days of competition remaining, South African fans can look forward to more medal opportunities as the team continues to compete on both track and field.

This year’s championships have already seen 44 nations claim at least one medal after just three days, underlining the depth of talent across para-athletics. For South Africa, James’s bronze has set the tone, while athletes like Mabote, Gouws, and Mahlalela are poised to keep the green and gold firmly in the spotlight.