The World Athletics Championships begin on 13 September and Team SA’s squad of 49 athletes features some of the world’s best that are heading to Tokyo, as well as exciting young stars looking to make their name on the global stage. Here is a breakdown of each athlete’s current world ranking and their 2025 season’s best performance that earned them their place.
MEN (32)
100m: Akani Simbine 12th (9.90)
100m: Bayanda Walaza 20th (9.94)
100m: Gift Leotlela 28th (9.98)
200m: Sinesipho Dambile 18th (20.01)
200m: Wayde van Niekerk 25th (20.07)
200m: Naeem Jack 35th (20.13)
400m: Zakithi Nene 1st (43.76)
400m: Lythe Pillay 44th (44.84)
1500m: Tshepo Tshite 31st (3:31.35)
1500m: Ryan Mphahlele 50th (3:32.27)
10 000m: Adriaan Wildschutt 8th (26:51.27)
Marathon: Elroy Gelant 29th (2:05:36)
110m hurdles: John Adesola 42nd (13.28)
110m hurdles: Antonio Alkana 62nd (13.37)
110m hurdles: Mondray Barnard 85th (13.44)
400m hurdles: Sabelo Dhlamini 32nd (48.57)
Pole vault: Kyle Rademeyer 32nd (5.73m)
High jump: Brian Raats 95th (2.21m)
Long jump: Cheswill Johnson 27th (8.17)
Shot put: Chris van Niekerk 28th (20.86m)
Shot put: Aiden Smith 35th (20.73m)
Discus: Victor Hogan 39th (65.51m)
Javelin: Douw Smit 18th (84.12)
20km race walk: Wayne Snyman 95th
WOMEN (17)
400m: Shirley Nekhubui 78th (51.28)
400m: Miranda Coetzee 62nd (51.10)
800m: Prudence Sekgodiso 9th (1:57.16)
800m: Charne Swart-Du Plessis 42nd (1:58.98)
100m hurdles: Marione Fourie 19th (12.60)
400m hurdles: Zenéy van der Walt 16th (54.25)
400m hurdles: Rogail Joseph 80th (56.00)
Pole vault: Miré Reinstorf 116th (4.35m)
Long jump: Danielle Nolte 85th (6.56m)
Shot put: Colette Uys 38th (18.14m)
Shot put: Ashley Erasmus 46th (17.99m)
Shot put: Miné de Klerk 50th (17.87m)
Javelin: Jo-Ane du Plessis 13th (62.77m)
35km race walk: Jessica Groenewalt 86th (3:13:17)
Also going to Tokyo:
4x100m: Bradley Nkoana, Retshidisitswe Mlenga, Abduraghmaan Karriem, Shaun Maswanganyi
4x400m mixed: Udeme Okon, Gardeo Isaacs, Leendert Koekemoer, Mthi Mthimkulu , Marie Viljoen, Precious Molepo, Hannah van Niekerk
