Gift Leotlela excited by his back-to-back national sprint titles

The South African sprint star nicknamed the “Gift of Speed,” delivered a heart-pounding performance to defend his 100m crown at the Athletics South Africa Senior National Championships in Stellenbosch on Thursday night.

Clocking an impressive 10.15 seconds, Leotlela edged out Benjamin Richardson by the slimmest of margins—just 0.01 seconds—in a finish so tight even he wasn’t sure he’d won.

“I honestly thought he had it,” Leotlela admitted afterward. “From my lane, I couldn’t tell who crossed first. It was that close.” Leotlela told SABC Sport.

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But the photo finish confirmed it: back-to-back national titles, and a statement that his resurgence is no accident.Just a year ago, Leotlela was in comeback mode after nearly two years away from competition and adjusting to a new coach Thabo Matebedi at the University of Pretoria.Many saw his first national title as a surprise. Now, there’s no doubt—he’s here to stay.

“This one mean even more,” he said. “It proves last year was not a fluke. It’s about building momentum and staying consistent.”

That momentum is about to be tested on the global stage.Leotlela has his sights set on the Diamond League circuit, with upcoming races in China starting with Shanghai on 16 May followed by Xiamen on 23 May, followed by a European tour.

He will also compete at the Kip Keino Classic in Kenya as part of a packed international schedule. And then there’s the bigger dream: representing South Africa at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August.

“If I make the team, I definitely want to be there,” he said.

With confidence growing and form peaking, Leotlela is not just chasing medals—he’s chasing legacy, one explosive stride at a time.