Junior Athletics in South Africa

The development of the rich athletic talent in South Africa provides a steady flow of competitors who are able to shine, not only at the National Championships but also at future global events, such as the Olympics and World Cup meetings.

There is real excitement about up-and-coming junior athletes who have already made their mark, as we hope to see more Olympic medals in future. We are proud of our athletes who won medals at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru in 2024.

Athlete | Event | Medal | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---

They have ignited our National pride and we can’t wait to see them perform in the senior competitions in future.

Athletics and youth sports offer a lot of advantages to the community, not only the athletes who make it the very top. It offers safe places to develop talent, builds resilience, discipline and teamwork keeping young people active and healthy. Scholarships are often offered to young athletes, giving them the opportunity to attend top institutions in South Africa and overseas. This opens the door for success in their studies and eventual careers.

There are some very good books to help teachers coach young talent if they are not situated near large centres. Amongst others, you can find

Track and field coaching sprints by Owen van Niekerk

Sports coaching in South Africa by A. Kubayi

Investing in Junior sport not only discovers and develops talent, it also shapes the lives of young people - uplifting their communities.