Bayanda Walaza (born 9 February 2006) is a South African sprinter.[1] He won silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics as part of South Africa's 4 x 100 metres relay team.[2]
From Katlehong in Gauteng, he attended Monde Primary School, Hoërskool Vorentoe and received a scholarship to Curro Hazeldean High School in Pretoria.[3][4][5]
Walaza runs for Athletics Gauteng North.[6] He won the SA U18 200m title and took silver in the 100m at the Athletics South Africa U18 Championships in Pietermaritzburg in January 2023.[4] He won the bronze medal in the 100m at the African U18 Championships in April 2023 in Zambia.[7]
He ran 10.36 seconds to win the U19 boys 100m race at the Curro Hazeldean Top 14 Athletics Meet which took place at the Pilditch Stadium, Pretoria on 28 January 2024.[4] He won the South Africa U20 Championships over 100 metres in a 10.13 personal best in March 2024.[8][6] He was runner-up at the South African Championships over 100 metres in April 2024 in a time of 10.27 seconds.[9]
He ran as part of the South African 4 × 100 m relay team which qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics at the 2024 World Relays Championships in Nassau, Bahamas.[10] In June 2024, he was selected for the South African team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.[11][12]
On 9 August 2024, Walaza won an Olympic silver medal as part of South Africa's 4 x 100 metres relay team at the Paris Olympics while still only 18 years old, becoming the first South African to win an Olympic medal while still in high school.[2] He won gold in both the 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru in August 2024.[13][14]
He competed at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in China in the Men's 4 × 100 metres relay in May 2025 and helped South Africa win the event.[15] Later that month, he lowered his 100 metres personal best to 9.94 seconds whilst racing in Zagreb into a headwind of -0.3m/s.[16] He finished sixth in 10.04 seconds at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic on 5 July.[17] That month, he won the sprint double over 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2025 Summer World University Games in Germany, as well as a silver medal in the men's 4 x 100 metres relay.[18][19][20]
He suffered an injury running the 100 metres at the Diamond Lesgue Final in Zurich in August 2025. Despite this, he was selected for the South African team for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.[21]
| Distance | Time (s) | Wind | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 metres | 6.58 | -1.8 m/s | Pretoria, South Africa | 8 February 2025 | |
| 100 meters | 9.94 | -0.3 m/s | Zagreb, Croatia | 24 May 2025 | |
| 200 meters | 20.08 | +0.5 m/s | Johannesburg, South Africa | 19 March 2025 | |
| 400 meters | 46.61 | — | Pretoria, South Africa | 1 February 2025 |
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | African U18 and U20 Championships in Athletics | Ndola, Zambia | 3rd | 100 m | 10.59 | |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 2nd | 4 × 100 m relay | 37.57 | AR |
| World U20 Championships | Lima, Peru | 1st | 100 m | 10.19 | ||
| 1st | 200 m | 20.52 | ||||
| 2025 | World Relays | Guangzhou, China | 1st | 4 × 100 m relay | 37.61 | |
| World University Games | Bochum, Germany | 1st | 100 m | 10.16 | ||
| 1st | 200 m | 20.63 | ||||
| 2nd | 4×100 m relay | 38.80 |
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World U20 Champions in men's 100 metres | |
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World U20 Champions in men's 200 metres | |
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World University Games champions in men's 100 metres | |
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World University Games champions in men's 200 metres | |
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