Matriculant Bayanda Walaza says he put his country first when he sacrificed his preliminary exam preparations to partake in the 2024 Paris Olympics where he won a silver medal in the 4x100m relay.

The 18-year-old alongside Shaun Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine made history at Stade de France when they won silver for South Africa in 4x100m relay and set an African record time of 37.75 seconds.

BAYANDA WALAZA TO RETURN TO SCHOOL AN OLYMPIC MEDALIST

Ahead of the race, Walaza’s school Curro Hazeldean sent his coach Thabo Matebe to Paris support the sprinter.

According to SABC Sport, Matebe who has 18 years experience and hails from Atteridgeville in Tshwane has coached big stars like Shaun Maswanganyi, Anaso Jobodwana, Gift Leotlela and Sinesipho Dambile among others.

Bayanda Walaza started the first lap in the 4x100m relay final at Stade de France. Image: X/Gayton McKenzie

Following his historic win, the 18-year-old from Gauteng told Newzroom Afrika that he put his country first by postponing his preliminary exams.

“It [winning an Olympic medal]means a lot to me . I had to sacrifice my preliminary exams preparations to fight for the country. I put my country first.

Walaza said he thinks he did very well so that other youngsters can also be motivated to show that age is just a number.

“You can accomplish anything you want to accomplish as long as you’re serious about it, you’re humble and you like what you’re doing,” he said.

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said their job is to go find the next Olympians who are still at school.

“Our next Olympians are still at school, our job is to go find them. Look at this matriculant getting a Silver Medal,” he said in a tweet referring to Bayanda Walaza.

HOW MUCH ARE THE ATHLETES GOING TO RECEIVE?

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) had announced that athletes who win medals at the Paris Olympics will be rewarded handsomely for their hard work.

In terms of relays and team sports, this was the promise made:

Gold medal: R100 000 per player/athlete and the coach R100 000
Silver medal: R75 000 per player/athlete and the coach R75 000
Bronze medal: R50 000 per player/athlete and the coach R50 000

As previously reported by The South African website, in a discussion with SABC Sport, McKenzie said he expected Team South Africa to return home with ‘eight medals’ from this year’s Games.

Although he was adamant that it remain a ‘surprise’ until officially communicated, it appears clear that Team SA gold, silver and bronze medal winners will receive something in addition to the financial incentives announced by Sascoc.

source:‘I put my country first’: Bayanda Walaza, 18, sacrifices exam preps for Olympics (thesouthafrican.com)