South Africa’s rising sprint star, Bayanda Walaza, has confirmed his loyalty to his coach and distinctive running style as he prepares for his next chapter at the University of Pretoria. The 18-year-old, fresh off his gold-medal victories in the 100m and 200m at the U-20 World Championships in Lima, Peru, returned to South Africa on Tuesday, September 3, balancing his academic commitments and athletic career.
Walaza, who also claimed a 4x100m silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games, has drawn attention for his lightning-fast start and unique running style, which involves flailing his arms and rocking his head in the final stages of the race. Despite concerns from some purists, Walaza is sticking to what works. “My coach told me, as long as it’s working for me, I might as well just stay doing it,” he explained.
Walaza has chosen to continue training under his coach, Thabo “Coach T” Matebedi, despite multiple offers from US universities. “I’m not going to change any coaches because that can cause a lot of difficulties,” he said, affirming his decision to stay in South Africa and study logistics at the University of Pretoria.
Currently a student at Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria, Walaza is juggling his athletics career with his matric prelim exams, starting with geography on Thursday, September 4. His commitment to his coach and running style remains unwavering as he continues to build on his successes and pursue his academic and athletic dreams.
