Olympic silver medalist Bayanda Walaza and his mother Tholiwe share an embrace Olympic silver medalist Bayanda Walaza and his mother Tholiwe share an embrace. Picture: Michael Sherman / IOL Sport
Following Bayanda Walaza’s silver-medal winning performance at the Paris Olympics, the teenager on Thursday dedicated his silver medal to his mother.
Walaza lost his father in a tragic incident at the age of 10, and his mother Tholiwe was tasked with raising her young son on her own.
“I really appreciate my mom a lot. I dedicate this win to her,” said Walaza.
Walaza was given a hero’s welcome when he returned to Curro Hazeldean High School in Pretoria, following his exploits in Paris.
“It feels kinda great. There was a point where I was truly shaking. ” Bayanda Walaza on what it feels like to be an Olympic silver medalist. Video: Michael Sherman/ @Golfhackno1 /@IOL Sport pic.twitter.com/TqEXaleNZD
— IOL News (@IOL) August 15, 2024
Meanwhile, Walaza’s coach predicted that the young sprinter will go on to dominate athletics for years to come.
It’s no surprise, that at the age of 18 and having served a crucial part of SA’s 4x100m relay team that lofty expectations have already surfaced.
Walaza was part of the men’s 4x100m relay team alongside Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswanganyi and Bradley Nkoana.
It was a stunning race, in which Team SA finished second behind Canada while the much-fancied USA outfit fumbled a changeover before being disqualified.
Walaza’s coach Thabo Matebedi, or ‘coach T’, sung the praises of his rising star.
“He’s a brave young man. He has a lot of potential. He can go far. We haven’t seen the best of the young man. There’s still a lot he needs to improve on. I believe he will dominate, and be one of the best athletes in the world,” said Matebedi.
Bayanda Walaza’s coach Thabo Matebedi, or ‘coach T’, believes his young star will go on to dominate world athletics for years to come.#Paris2024 @IOLsport pic.twitter.com/s2yYDXHlt9
— Michael Sherman (@Golfhackno1) August 15, 2024
Meanwhile, Walaza said his time in Paris would be something he never forgets.
“It feels kinda great. Being one of the people who got a silver medal for South Africa, I will cherish it,” said Walaza.
After the school assembly in which Walaza was honoured, there was a line of pupils still waiting to congratulate the athlete. It was also interesting to see that Walaza was eager to pass his prized-possession silver medal around for anyone who wanted to feel it, or hang it from their neck briefly.
At Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria where the school gave Bayanda Walaza a huge welcome for winning a silver medal in the men's 4x100m relay at #Paris2024 @IOLsport @IOL pic.twitter.com/1hxRkuqqyW
— Michael Sherman (@Golfhackno1) August 15, 2024
Walaza explained why he wanted to share his medal with everyone.
“If you give something to feel something, you give them motivation. You want to give them something to cherish. Some people can’t do athletics, but it can still push them to do more in what they’re good at.”
As for the Olympic experience itself, Walaza said he went through a multitude of emotions.
“I went through the emotions because there was a point where I was shaking. Then I saw messages of good luck from everyone at the school, that made me think - these people are behind me, so why should I be scared? I’m carrying this whole school behind me, so let me just go there and do what I do best.
“The final was great as everything went as planned. The changeovers were smooth, my start was the best. I thought if I die, let me die after the baton is out of my hand. I just pushed, everyone pushed. It was the greatest moment ever.”
Bayanda Walaza’s best friend, and long distance runner Lutho Timati says the Olympian has already inspired more children to take up athletics at @CURRO_SCHOOLS Hazeldean High School and that away from the cameras the sprinter is a bubbly, crazy character.@IOLsport pic.twitter.com/mm8wWZ3apQ
— Michael Sherman (@Golfhackno1) August 15, 2024
Long distance runner, Walaza’s school mate and best friend Lutho Timati, explained what the sprinter is like away from the limelight.
“Bayanda is a crazy guy. He’s one guy that would not allow people to be negative around him. He actually takes everything for a joke, because his personality is different from all of us. His performance at the Olympics inspires me and everyone else at the school. People that didn’t do athletics have now started to come to the training field because of his impact.”