It has been a long, frustrating wait for South African athletics fans. Since the glory days of London 2017 — when the rainbow nation stormed home with six medals, including three golds — the podium at the World Athletics Championships has been out of reach.

Eight years on, the hunger for a medal is stronger than ever. The drought has stretched across four consecutive editions, but the 2025 Championships in Tokyo offer a new dawn, a fresh chance at redemption.

Leading the 49-strong squad is sprint king Akani Simbine, who has carried the weight of South African sprinting for nearly a decade. Behind him is a wave of talent — Olympic finalists, world record-holders, and rising stars — all eager to restore the nation’s place among the global elite.

Akani Simbine – The Relentless Sprinter

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simbine ran the race of his life — a national record of 9.82 — only to finish agonizingly short of the podium in the greatest sprint final of all time. Now, in Tokyo, the 100m showdown is once again his proving ground. With the added firepower of the 4x100m relay, he stands as one of South Africa’s brightest hopes.

Zakithi Nene – The 400m Powerhouse

This season, Zakithi Nene has been unstoppable, clocking the fastest 400m time in the world with a blistering 43.76 in Kenya. He carried that form into the Diamond League, pushing Olympic champion Quincy Hall to the limit. With Van Niekerk opting for the 200m, Nene now carries the nation’s full hopes in the one-lap race.

Jo-Ane van Dyk – The Spear of South Africa

In Paris, Jo-Ane van Dyk’s silver-medal throw brought tears of joy to a nation. With her season’s best of 62.77m and consistent podium finishes, she is once again in striking distance of glory. Facing the world’s best — Kitaguchi and Vilagos — she knows she must summon her fiercest throws to claim another global medal.

Prudence Sekgodiso – The Rising Queen of the 800m

Every championship needs a breakout star, and Prudence Sekgodiso could be South Africa’s. The 23-year-old world indoor champion has been knocking on the door, recently smashing her personal best with a 1:57.16 in Ostrava. Though ranked ninth in the world this year, her fearless racing spirit could propel her onto the Tokyo podium.

As the championships kick off this weekend, the question remains:
Will Tokyo 2025 mark the end of South Africa’s medal drought, or will the wait go on ?