From schoolkid dreams to a world-leading finish, South Africa’s 4x400m relay team just delivered something unforgettable.
Global (12 May 2025) – South Africa made track and field history… and it’s the kind of story that’ll make you want to high-five a stranger and shout “Yoh, we did it!”
Our Men’s 4x400m relay team lit up the track at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, with a record-breaking, gold-medal-winning, world-leading performance that stunned the world and made an entire nation proud.
Led by a fierce foursome – Gardeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene – the South African squad sprinted to victory in a mind-blowing time of 2:57.50, smashing the previous national record and clocking the fastest time in the world this year.
It was fast. It was flawless. It was magic.
What makes this win even more heart-squeezingly brilliant is the makeup of the team itself. Two of the runners, including 17-year-old scholar Leendert Koekemoer, are still teenagers. Yes, school uniforms one day, world records the next!
“We are beside ourselves with joy,” said Athletics South Africa’s president. And honestly, same.
And it wasn’t just this team; South Africa had all four of its relay squads make their finals in China, earning qualifications for the World Championships in Tokyo later this year. We’re not just showing up. We’re showing off (in the best way).
To the runners, the coaches, and everyone who made this moment possible… thank you. You’ve given us something to celebrate, something to shout about and a reminder of just how brilliant South Africans can be when we run together.
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