Gift Leotlela eyes a place in SA’s world relay team

Leotlela missed out on the last World Senior relay event in the 4x100m due to injury and is determined to make amends after reaching his first senior 100m final, where he clocked an impressive 9.95 seconds in Tokyo.

With the relay world championships fast approaching, competition for places is expected to be fierce, with local sprinting depth led by seven-time national 100m champion Akani Simbine, who is widely regarded as the anchor.

The 28-year-old, who competed at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, says South Africa has an abundance of sprinting talent to choose from.

He singled out Abdurahman Karim, Karabo Letebele, Emile Erasmus and Tsebo Matsoso as some of the sprinters who have shown real promise.

"Karim is running really well, but I've never seen him in a relay setting. Tsebo is another guy that has been posting good times. There's a lot I can actually pick."

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Coached by Thabo Matebedi, popularly known as Coach T in athletics circles, Leotlela won his first major senior 100m title in 2025 in the North West.

He believes South Africa should be targeting medals not only in the relays, but also in individual events, given the quality currently on display.

"I think it's amazing. This is going to push us to run even faster, and now we know we are aiming for medals and not just to make the team

The Tshwane-based sprinter, who trains alongside Bayanda Walaza and Sinesipho Dambile, admits that earning a place in the relay team requires consistent sub-10 second performances.

"If you want to be there you have to go sub-10, and that pushes us to work even harder to get those times."