Walaza Completes Sprint Double with 200m Gold at World University Games

Rhine-Ruhr, Germany – July 24, 2025
South African sprint star Bayanda Walaza completed a memorable sprint double at the 2025 FISU World University Games, adding the 200m gold medal to the 100m title he claimed earlier in the week.

Walaza crossed the line in 20.63 seconds to win the 200m final on Thursday evening, finishing ahead of Spain’s Adria Medero and Korea’s Jaeseong Lee, who took silver and bronze respectively.

The 22-year-old looked focused from the outset. Earlier in the evening, he had comfortably won his semifinal in 20.76, after which he immediately returned to the athletes’ tunnel to recover—an uncharacteristic move from the usually media-friendly sprinter who often takes time to engage with fans and photographers. This time, his attention was clearly on delivering a strong performance in the final.

Once the race began, Walaza made a clean and quick start and maintained his lead throughout, holding off a fast-closing field to secure his second gold of the Games.

Speaking after the race, Walaza reflected on the level of competition:

“These Games are incredibly competitive. Every country sends their best university athletes, so you’re racing against top-level sprinters from all over the world. For me to come out on top is a great honour. It’s a reward for all the hard work I’ve been putting in with my coach.”

His victory marked South Africa’s 16th medal at the Games, and eighth in athletics. It was also the fourth medal of the day for the team, adding to what has been one of the strongest single-day performances by South Africa in this year’s competition.

Just moments before Walaza’s 200m final, Aiden Smith produced a thrilling last-round throw to win gold in the men’s shot put, moving from fifth to first. In the same evening, Morne Barnard claimed bronze in the men’s 110m hurdles, while the Mixed 4x400m Relay Team captured silver to close out a highly successful day for Team South Africa.