South Africa’s historic performance at the ‘Olympic Games of university sport’

South African athletes flew the flag high at the FISU World University Games in Germany this year, ranking seventh overall with 19 medals across all events, a historic best for the country.

The FISU World University Games, commonly known as the “Olympic Games of university sport,” is a multi-sport event designed for student-athletes.

Organised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the Games are held every two years, featuring both summer and winter editions.

The country’s 2025 delegation consisted of 110 athletes who competed in eight sporting codes and won six gold medals, five silver medals, and eight bronze medals.

The head of the South African delegation, Carole Adams, said that the country’s selection process was “rigorous and thorough, designed to ensure that only the most talented and dedicated students represent the country.”

“Students were selected per approved sport code through a combination of their performance in both local (provincial or USSA events) and international competitions,” she added.

Most of South Africa’s medals were won in track and field and swimming events, with Bayanda Walaza’s winning the country’s first gold in the men’s 100m with a time of 10.16 seconds.

Walaza previously caught the attention of the South African public for his role in securing a silver medal in the men’s 4x100m during the 2024 Olympic Games.

However, he was not done there. He went on to win gold in the men’s 200m track event as well, with a time of 20.63 seconds.

Walaza was also part of the men’s 4x100m team, which included Kyle Zinn, Retshidisitswe Mlenga, and Mthi Mthimkulu. The team won gold with a season-best time of 38.80 seconds.

Mlenga had broken the 10-second barrier in the 100m sprint at an event in Austria just a few weeks earlier, ranking him among the top-10 fastest times for the race in South African history.

Lythe Pillay was another South African track athlete to shine in the track events, placing first in the men’s 400m final with a time of 44.84 seconds.

Pillay also participated in the mixed 4x400m relay with teammates Precious Molepo, Marlie Viljoen, and Mthi Mthimkulu, who won a silver medal in the final with a time of 3:16.42 minutes.

In the women’s track events, Gabriella Marais won a bronze medal in the 100m final with a time of 11.51 seconds.

Two African records in the pool

South Africa also performed well on the field with Aiden Smith winning a gold medal in the men’s shot put with a distance of 20.25 metres.

South Africa also brought home a medal in the women’s shot put event with Colette Uys coming in third with a distance of 17.34 metres.

Jana van Schalkwyk brought home a bronze medal in the women’s javelin event with a distance of 56.73 metres in the final.

Moving to the pool, Pieter Coetzé won gold in the men’s 100m backstroke, setting a new championship and African record at 51.99 seconds.

A few days later, he placed second in the men’s 200m backstroke final with a time of 1:53.36 minutes, which is also a new African record.

South Africa also secured a medal in the women’s 200m backstroke event, where Kaylene Corbett won bronze with a time of 2:23.52 minutes.

Adding to South Africa’s tally of medals in the swimming code, Lara van Niekerk won silver in the women’s 50m breaststroke, clocking a time of 30.68 seconds.

In the women’s 50m freestyle, Olivia Nel brought home a bronze medal with a time of 24.82 seconds. She also won a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke, clocking a time of 27.91 seconds.

Nel also participated in the mixed 100m freestyle event with teammates Guy Brookes, Ruard van Renen, and Michaela de Villiers, which won a silver medal with a 3:28.51 minutes.

South Africa’s athletes also brought home a medal in the women’s rowing, with duo Katherine Williams and Courtney Westley grabbing a silver in the women’s pair at 7:43.97 minutes.

---

FISU World Games

---