View noticesSA's U20 athletes deliver near-record medal haul in Eugene
South Africa's junior athletes returned from the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, with eight medals.
According to Yanga Sibembe, reporting for Daily Maverick, it’s their second-best haul at the event, behind only the nine medals won in Nairobi in 2021.
The country's lone gold came from 19-year-old javelin thrower Jan-Hendrik Heymans, who broke his personal best by more than three metres to win with a throw of 80.50m, having led the field from his opening effort of 76.92m.
India's Ashish Yadav took silver, while Dominica's Addison James claimed a historic first world U20 medal for his country with a national-record bronze throw.
Hurdler Tumi Ramokgopa added two silvers, in the women's 100m and 400m hurdles, running a personal best in the latter.
Further medals came from Marko Ferreira (100m bronze), Leendert Koekemoer (400m bronze, and a relay silver anchoring the 4x400m squad to an African U20 record), Matodzi Ndou (400m hurdles bronze) and Jaco van Dyk (shot put bronze).
Athletics South Africa's acting president, John Mathane, called it the federation's best U20 world championship showing since 2021, crediting the athletes, coaches and support staff – and singling out parents and guardians for their cooperation with team officials – for the result, which he said pointed to a strong pipeline of talent coming through the sport.
SOURCE: Daily Maverick