Thapelo Molefe
FOR South Africa’s youngest Olympian Bayanda Walaza, winning a silver medal as part of the 4x100m relay team was beyond a dream but coming back home to face fellow matriculants is a bit scary for the youngster.
“For me it’s kind of scary I don’t want to lie. I know when I go back to school everyone will be like, Hey! ,” the 18-year-old Walaza said from Paris after the SA relay team powered to a second spot in the 4x100m.
Walaza was part of the quartet relay team that included Shaum Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana and the veteran Akani Simbine who at last got an Olympic medal after years of missing out marginally.
The SA team was beaten to gold by Canada in a photo finish while the United Kingdom came third to claim bronze.
But for Walaza, a matriculant at Curro in Hazeldean, Pretoria, after winning the silver at the world stage, he is worried and concerned that it might be a little overwhelming when he returns to school.
He admitted that being on the track running against some of the world beaters was intimidating but he had to get the job done and was thankful for the opportunity.
“So, I just did it and I am truly happy to just be part of this team. I truly appreciate being here and I am truly thankful for what’s going on and what is happening.
That is all I can say,” he said.
Walaza had to sacrifice preparing for the preliminary examinations but this was no brainer for him because he took pride in representing his country at the Olympics.
“Winning an Olympic medal means a lot to me. I had to sacrifice my preliminary exams preparations to fight for the country. I put my country first,” he said.
Walaza joined the SA Team as a replacement after Benjamin Richardson, who ran a superb personal best of 9.86 in July, had to be withdrawn from the relay team after he picked up a hamstring injury in the 200m heats during the qualifying rounds.
His school had to fund his coach Thato Matebe to fly to the Olympic in the French capital so he can support the young sprinter.
The youngster is set to be rewarded handsomely with prize money set to flow for athletes that will be bringing medals home with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) president Barry Hendricks confirming that financial incentives have been authorized for medal winners.
For each athlete bringing a silver medal it is estimated that the financial reward is about R75 000. And generous Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said there could be surprises when the team. An excited McKenzie was thrilled by the youngster’s achievement.
“Our next Olympians are still at school. Our job is to go find them. Look at this matriculant getting a silver medal,” McKenzie posted on social media platform X.
INSIDE EDUCATION
