The South African team were welcomed home by hundreds of fans, family, friends and schoolmates on Wednesday afternoon after finishing top of the medals table at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 14 May, 2025.
The women’s 4x400m bronze added to the three medals the national team earned over the weekend, and in addition, the mixed 4x400m team — who finished fifth in their event— also qualified for the World Athletics Championships, to be held in Tokyo in September.
Zeney Geldenhuys (women’s captain), who was a key member of both the women’s 4x400m and mixed relay teams, said they had given it everything to secure a surprise medal in the women’s four-lap final.
The national women’s 4x400m quartet – Geldenhuys, Miranda Coetzee, Shirley Nekhubui and Precious Molepo – shattered the SA record, taking third place in the final in 3:24.84, while Hannah van Niekerk also stepped on the podium after turning out in the first-round heats.
“At first we were celebrating the medal, and then when we saw the time we were shocked to see the record was broken by nearly four seconds.”
SA Women’s Relays Captain, Zeney Geldenhuys
“We were just jumping up and down and we were so happy to be part of such an amazing team, running for South Africa and running for each other. We completely left our hearts on that track, and I think all of us are just so excited for what’s to come.”
Suzan Molobye-Milanzi, the head of delegation for Team SA in Guangzhou, said they had surpassed their goals at the two-day relay championships.
“We knew it was not going to be easy but we believed it was possible if we did our utmost best,” Molobye-Milanzi said. “We were not expecting so many medals, and some of the countries saw us as underdogs, but with the determination we had we made it.”
Speaking to the athletes, ASA President James Moloi said the federation was delighted with the national squad’s overall results.
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“You’ve done very well. You did it for the nation and you did it for the entire African continent,” Moloi said. “The whole country is happy and the board of Athletics South Africa is very happy.
“With the seniors and the youngsters, I think we have a very strong relay squad going forward, and we are behind you.”
Also addressing the athletes, Sascoc President Barry Hendricks congratulated the team on their performances. He said the Olympic body was pleased to have invested in the squad, with Sascoc having assisted with training camps in the build-up to the World Relays through its Operation Excellence programme.
“We are proud of you. You made us stand up and shout, screaming at our TVs. The manner and passion with which you ran, never giving up, has instilled a seed of hope in many athletes who are aspiring to achieve what you’ve achieved,” Hendricks said.
“The World Athletics Championships is coming up (later this year) and the LA 2028 Olympics is also coming up, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start to this year, coming from the Paris 2024 Olympics. You have achieved more than we could have hoped for.”
Original Copy: Athletics SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The combined SA National Relay team’s arrival at OR Tambo International Airport smile to record the moment with ASA President, James Moloi; SASCOC President, Barry Hendricks; and and Teboho Thebehae, Acting Deputy Director-General at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. All Photos: Cecilia van Bers
Photo 2 Caption: The women’s 4x400m relay team won bronze, and qualified for Tokyo World Athletics Champs in September.
Photo 3 Caption: The South African 4x400m mixed relay team qualified for Tokyo World Athletics Champs in Guangzhou, China.
