The curtain has come down on the 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo — a competition already being hailed as one of the most competitive and captivating in history. Once again, athletics has proven why it remains the most global of all sports, bringing together men and women from across the planet in a nine-day showcase of speed, strength, and drama.
This year’s event rewrote the record books, with 53 nations claiming medals — the widest spread in championship history, surpassing the previous mark of 46 achieved in Budapest (2023) and Osaka (2007). The milestone underlined the sport’s true universality and the depth of talent now emerging worldwide.
South Africa’s Journey Since Stuttgart 1993
South Africa’s own history on this stage dates back to 1993 in Stuttgart, just a year after rejoining global sport. Since then, the nation has featured at every one of the last 17 editions, amassing 28 medals (12 gold, 7 silver, 9 bronze).
Tokyo 2025 added another chapter as the men’s 4x400m relay squad stormed to bronze — South Africa’s first podium finish since 2017 in London. And claiming our 29th medal in total spanning all 17 events participated in. That London campaign still stands as the country’s finest, yielding six medals, including golds from Wayde van Niekerk (400m), Luvo Manyonga (long jump) and Caster Semenya (800m).
The dry spell of 2019, 2022, and 2023 made this year’s medal all the more significant, signalling and reaffirming the potential of South African track and field.
Beyond Medals: The Placings Table Tells a Bigger Story
While medals remain the traditional marker of success, World Athletics also compiles a Placings Table, which awards points (8 for gold down to 1 for eighth place) based on final positions. This system shines light on overall depth — how often athletes reach finals, not just the podium.
In Tokyo, South Africa finished 21st with 25 points, the result of seven top-eight finishes. By this metric, it was the nation’s fourth-best performance ever. Narrow the focus to the number of finals reached, and it ranks third. Factor in the diversity of athletes making finals — seven different athletes and teams — and it becomes South Africa’s second-most successful campaign, behind only Paris 2003, where ten athletes contested finals and four medals were secured.
The Bigger Picture: Growth, Visibility and Inspiration
The significance of Tokyo 2025 stretches beyond numbers. In an era where athletes connect directly with fans through social media and where digital sports platforms amplify every stride and throw, athletics in South Africa finds itself at a crucial moment.
Momentum is building. The next generation of stars is already showing promise, with Team South Africa capturing 10 medals in athletics at the recent World University Games in Berlin, finishing fourth overall in the discipline. The pipeline looks strong.
But sustaining this progress requires support. Attendance at local meets by fans, visibility across all media platforms, and recognition for athletes in all disciplines will be key to ensuring that South Africa continues to rise and becomes stronger. This is relevant to all other smaller sports, known as the Cinderella sports in South Africa.
A Call to Action
South Africa prides itself on being a sport-loving nation. Tokyo 2025 was a reminder that athletics — the heartbeat of the Olympic movement — deserves to be at the forefront of that passion.
At Sport South Africa, our commitment is clear: to shine a light on athletes across all disciplines, to tell their stories, and to ensure that the successes of today inspire the champions of tomorrow.
Tokyo offered proof that we are heading the right direction. Now, it’s up to all of us — athletes, media, and fans alike — to keep the trajectory moving forward.
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