by Deji Ogeyingbo
Why Bayanda Walaza’s Slow-Burn Strategy Might Just Be Smarter
Bayanda Walaza isn’t the first South African sprinter to turn heads before his 20th birthday, but he may be the most talked-about teenager in the 100m right now. At just 19, he’s one of the fastest men in the world this year, and he’s done it without the typical fanfare of a Diamond League debut or a College Scholarship. Instead, he’s chosen a path that echoes South African veteran Akani Simbine and, more recently, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo: staying home and building through the less glamorous, more demanding route of training in Africa.
In Zagreb last weekend, Walaza stopped the clock at 9.94 seconds in the 100m, a new personal best into a light headwind. He edged out Germany’s Owen Ansah by more than a quarter of a second. For many fans watching, it was just another win. But for those who’ve followed his journey, it was another layer added to a remarkable story.
The numbers are striking. Walaza has already run under 10 seconds twice this year. He owns the South African U20 record of 9.99 (which is now 9.94), set earlier this year in Pretoria. He’s clocked 20.08 in the 200m, 6.58 over 60m, and even has a 400m best of 46.61. And he was part of South Africa’s team that ran a blazing 37.61 to win the 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou.
But behind the stopwatch is a young man shaped by trauma. When he was 10, Walaza lost his father in a violent incident. His mother, Tholiwe, spoke candidly about the toll that tragedy took on her son, and how close he came to being consumed by the emotional aftermath. She sought out counseling for both of them, knowing that grief could derail the future she still hoped he could have.
Now, Walaza stands not just as a symbol of what can be achieved, but as someone still figuring it all out. His decision to remain in South Africa instead of heading to the U.S. college system isn’t just about national pride. It’s about comfort, control, and belief in a different process. One that has worked before.
For years, the American NCAA has been a magnet for young African talent. Fast sprinters have often traded home comforts for scholarships, chasing better facilities, competition, and the promise of exposure. But that system doesn’t work for everyone. The likes of Akani Simbine proved a decade ago that staying in South Africa could work just fine. He trained with consistency, stayed close to family, and climbed to the world stage. Same can be said of the current world record holder in the 400m, Wayde Van Niekerk.
More recently, Letsile Tebogo took a similar approach. While offers from U.S. schools poured in, he remained in Botswana, winning Olympic Gold and breaking records on his own terms. It seems Walaza has drawn from the same playbook.
There’s also something to be said about his approach to competition. Instead of chasing early Diamond League appearances, Walaza is learning his craft in meetings like the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial in Croatia and the Grand Prix circuit in South Africa. These are not televised prime-time spots, but they offer something else: a proving ground without the glare.
It’s a decision that’s already paying off. There’s less pressure, fewer distractions, and more chances to develop race intelligence. He’s winning races, not just running fast times. And in an era where young athletes can get hyped too quickly and burned out even faster, Walaza’s steady rise feels refreshing.
He is already faster at 19 than many stars were at that age. But what makes his story different is that he doesn’t seem in a rush. There’s no obsession with chasing every endorsement or grabbing headlines. He runs, recovers, trains, and repeats.
Walaza’s ceiling is clearly high, but what makes people root for him isn’t just his speed. It’s the way he carries the weight of expectation with quiet determination. He’s not trying to be the next Simbine or Tebogo. He’s trying to be himself, and that might be even more compelling.
This year has already shown what he can do when conditions are right. The challenge ahead is to maintain this pace, stay healthy, and continue improving.
