Sekgodiso wins SA's first gold medal at Indoor Worlds

rugby23 March 2025 15:27
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      South African middle-distance runner Prudence Sekgodiso produced a spectacular performance on Sunday, winning gold in the women's 800m final on the third and final day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.

      Sekgodiso triumphed in 1:58.40, shattering her own South African short track record of 1:59.88 which she set earlier this season.

      The 23-year-old South African also clocked the fastest indoor time in the world this year, securing the SA team's second medal of the global showpiece after Akani Simbine earned bronze in the men's 60m final on Friday.

      Sekgodiso won comfortably, finishing nearly a full second ahead of Ethiopia's Nigist Getachew who grabbed the silver medal in 1:59.63, with Patricia Silva of Portugal taking bronze in 1:59.80.

      In the men's long jump final, Cheswill Johnson finished 12th with a best leap of 7.64m, while Chris van Niekerk ended 14th in the men's shot put final with a 19.47m throw.

      "This is what we are talking about, a gold medal to crown a super performance inspired by the bronze we got earlier," said an overjoyed James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa.

      "Our athletes are nothing else, but amazing. They focus on the bigger picture and then go and get it.

      "We are very grateful to our indoor team for their performance by putting the best put forward. The pressure is now on to do better as we begin our World Championships season. We wish everyone a safe journey home."

      The team arrives at 7.40am on Tuesday 25 March, landing at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

      © ASA