The Reddam House Durbanville learner claimed the U17 world title in Lithuania and is now focused on developing her skills for senior international competition.
Cape Town, South Africa (12 November 2026) – At just 16 years old, South African athlete Tatiana Thomatos has already claimed a world title and is now setting her sights on the next stage of her sporting journey.
The Reddam House Durbanville Grade 10 learner has enjoyed a remarkable year in modern pentathlon, competing against senior international athletes while continuing to make her mark in the younger age categories.
Her biggest achievement came in July, when she was crowned U17 world champion in Kaunas, Lithuania, setting a new world record in the process.
Thomatos finished with 1 463 points, edging Türkiye’s Tulya Kesebir by just two points in a closely contested final.
The victory was particularly impressive given the circumstances of the final Laser Run. Starting the event 15 seconds behind the leader, Thomatos knew that her shooting and running would be crucial if she was to fight her way to the top of the podium.
“When I started the Laser Run, I knew I had to focus on my shooting and stay calm if I wanted to close the gap,” said Tatiana. “My coach was motivating me every lap and, on the last lap, he gave me the courage to give everything I had and pass the leader.”
The result was almost difficult to believe, even for the young champion.
“The reality that I had actually won didn’t hit me until after I crossed the finish line,” she said.
She had initially entered the competition hoping to surpass the 1 400-point mark internationally, making the news of her world record even more special.
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Her performances have also seen her take on increasingly challenging international competitions. Earlier this year, she reached the semi-finals of the senior World Cup in Cairo before competing at the World Cup Final in Budapest.
Having finished second in the fencing at the U17 World Championships, she has recently started working with an Egyptian coach to further develop her technique. Her training programme has increasingly taken her to Egypt, where she continues to work alongside a team of coaches who are helping her prepare for the demands of senior competition.
While the Olympic Games remain a long-term ambition, Thomatos has already had to adjust her goals along the way. At the age of 12, she had set her sights on competing at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, but modern pentathlon was not included in the programme.
Rather than allowing the disappointment to derail her ambitions, she chose to look towards new opportunities.
“It was disappointing, but I just needed to find new and bigger dreams,” she said. “I think for every athlete the ultimate dream would be to compete in the Olympics one day.”
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