Untidy handover costs Bayanda Walaza golden treble in student games finale
In the morning rowers Kat Williams and Courtney Westley secured silver in the women's pair, winning the country's only medal outside swimming and athletics. And javelin-thrower Jana van Schalkwyk took bronze in the women's event on Saturday night with a distance of 56.73m.
The nation ended seventh on the medals table with six gold, five silver and eight bronze, though they finished fourth on the athletics medals table and fifth in the swimming standings.
An untidy final handover from Mthi Mthimkulu to Walaza cost the Mzansi flyers as they ended second behind Korea in the final athletics event of the showpiece.
Walaza, the 100m and 200m champion at the Universiade, went into the relay expected to make it three sprint golds, but just when it seemed they were going to make it, the South Africans came unstuck.
Kyle Zinn, fifth in the 100m, got off to a good start, with Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Mthimkulu advancing the baton at the front of the race.
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ His rise has been meteoric. Under the guidance of Curro coach Thabo Matebedi, Walaza slashed his 100m and 200m times, claiming gold at the SA Under-20 Championships. By August, he stood on the Olympic podium in Paris with a silver medal around his neck as part of South Africa's 4x100m relay team. 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Now studying supply chain management at Tshwane University of Technology, Walaza balances books and training, fuelled by the mission to inspire others. When asked what he would say to someone who doubts the power of giving, he replies without hesitation: 'I am the difference your contribution made. Even the smallest act of giving can change the direction of a young person's life.' 'I nearly didn't make it,' Walaza says with quiet resolve, 'but I was given a chance – and I ran with it. Literally and figuratively.' Named after the Sesotho phrase for 'educating the nation,' the foundation partners with Curro and other private institutions to provide scholarships to talented learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. The I Funded A Future campaign invites individuals and corporates to support these life-changing opportunities. BUSINESS REPORT
