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If anyone had told Gift “Gift of Speed” Leotlela that he would end the year as a national 100m champion and a World Championships finalist, he admits he would have laughed it off.
After nearly two years lost to injuries and poor form, the 27-year-old made a spectacular return this season under the guidance of his former coach, Thabo Matebedi, who first shaped him into a teenage sprint star.
Leotlela overcame a career-threatening knee injury to capture his first Athletics South Africa Senior Track and Field 100m crown.
He then stunned the athletics world at the World Championships in Tokyo, running a personal best of 9.87 seconds in the heats before finishing fifth in the final in 9.95 seconds.
He credits the positive environment around him for fuelling his comeback and form.
"I'm really proud of myself for getting through the tough times in my career so far. I have been training really well, and my environment has kept me focused and motivated."
Leotlela believes 2025 was the best season of his professional career, one that exceeded even his own expectations.
From battling setbacks to standing on the start line of a global final, he describes the campaign as a dream come true — capped with a national sprint title and a world-class performance in Tokyo.
The University of Pretoria graduate admitted his career was slipping away before he reunited with Matebedi, affectionately known in athletics circles as “Coach T.”
That reunion became the turning point in his revival, giving him the belief and structure needed to perform at the highest level again.
Despite his blistering form in Tokyo, many were surprised when Leotlela did not line up in the men’s 4x100m relay heats.
With his 9.87-second personal best, he was the fastest in the squad, but he pulled out as a precaution after feeling a niggle during warm-up.
His absence left supporters disappointed, and the South African team missed out on a place in the final.
Leotlela made it clear that his main focus will always be his individual races, with the relay only coming into play once he has finished with his own discipline, as he looks ahead to 2026 and beyond.
