Samuel Clarke wins Persuasive Speaking gold in Bristol as Bishops students deliver strong performances across multiple categories while making their school and country proud.
Cape Town, South Africa (24 April 2026) – A group of Bishops Diocesan College learners have returned from the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in Bristol with plenty to celebrate, including a world title.
Hamaad Badroodien, Daniel Bursey, Samuel Clarke, Matthew de Jager and Luca Heesom represented both their school and South Africa on the global stage, competing against some of the best young speakers and debaters from around the world.
Leading the charge was Samuel Clarke, who delivered a standout performance throughout the competition. After progressing through the rounds, he secured a place in the Grand Final for Persuasive Speaking. This stage is reserved for only the top three competitors in the category. From there, he went one step further.
Clarke was crowned world champion for his speech on the impact of deepfakes on digital identity, finishing first in the world in Persuasive Speaking. This was not a one-man show.
Several of his teammates also made deep runs into the competition. Hamaad Badroodien reached the semi-finals in Interpretative Reading, Impromptu Speaking and Debating, while Clarke himself also featured in multiple semi-final rounds across categories.
Daniel Bursey and Luca Heesom both advanced to the semi-finals in Interpretative Reading, with Bursey going on to compete in the final round of the category. Clarke also featured in the final for Persuasive Speaking before progressing to the Grand Final.
The championships, founded in 1988, bring together top high school speakers from across the globe, with competitors tested across four core disciplines: debating, impromptu speaking, interpretative reading and prepared speeches.
And for the team, it was a chance to test their skills internationally, gain experience and represent their school on a global platform. And of course, with one of them officially the best in the world in his category.
Sources: Bishops Diocesan College
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