Twenty-four-year-old Taylon Bieldt is undoubtedly South Africa's most versatile athlete.

Where most athletes prefer to specialise in one event, Bieldt is the exception. This season the Tuks alumna clocked personal best times in the 200 metres (22.99s), 400 metres (52.61s), the 100m-hurdles (12.76s) and the 400m-hurdles (54.91s).

A definite highlight was in June in Italy when she set a new South African record, winning the 100m-hurdles in 12.76s. Her winning time was 0.05s faster than the South African record set by Tuks's Rikenette Steenkamp in 2018. Her heroics meant she had qualified to compete at the World Champs in Budapest (19-27 August).

She just failed to qualify in the 400m hurdles for the World Championships. Ten days after setting a national record, she clocked 54.91s in the 400m hurdles racing in Finland. The qualifying time for the World Champs is 54.90s.

Rivalries in South African women's athletics are a rarity. That is what makes Bieldt's performances remarkable. She has sparked rivalries with Zeney van der Walt in the 400m hurdles and Marione Fourie in the 100m hurdles.

Four weeks after Bieldt's record performance in the 100m hurdles, Fourie improved on it by running 12.55s.

Remembering when we last had such a duel in South African women's athletics is hard. For that matter, even in our men's athletics, when an athlete sets a national record, it generally stands for a year or more.

The South African athletics statistician and podcaster Danie Cornelius is quite excited about Fourie and Bieldt's 100-meter hurdle heroics.

"Their duel is going to be good for our women's athletics. They are proving to our young athletes that there is no reason why you can't compete against the world's best. I won't be surprised if the South African 100-meter hurdles record improves again. Taylon (Bieldt) is a fighter. She would want the record back.

"Few countries have two 100-meter hurdles athletes who can clock times faster than 12.60s. As far as I know, it is only in the US (United States). 12.55 is a fantastic time. They will medal if Marione or Taylon can come close to running 12.55s at the World Champs. Wouldn't that be great? Especially considering that the 100-meter hurdles have long been forgotten in South African athletics."

When Van der Walt qualified for the World Champs, running 54.82s, Bieldt was second in 55.82s.

As far as it could be established, Bieldt is only the third local female athlete who has been competitive in both hurdles events. Ina van Rensburg clocked 13.09s in 1986 in the 100m-hurdles. While her personal best time in the 400m-hurdles was 55.81s. Surita Febbraio-Loots ran 13.10s in the 100m hurdles in 2001 and 54.05s in the 400m hurdles in 2003.

According to the South African athletics statistician Danie Cornelius, Bieldt is one of only a few athletes to have set national records in three different age groups.

 "In 2015, at the World Youth Championships (under-18), Taylon won silver running 13.18s. A year later, at the World Junior Champs (under-20), her time was 13.35s. With both performances, she set national records. In June, she had set a senior record.

Cornelius predicts that Bieldt has what it takes to become one of the greats of South African athletics.

"I have no doubt that she can run faster. It should be remembered that she started the season training for the 400m hurdles. If she decides to focus only on the 100m hurdles, she can be 12.50s or faster."

When asked how Bieldt and Fourie's 100m hurdle duel will play out, Cornelius said, "Taylon is the faster of the two, but Marione's hurdling technique is better. So it is going to be exciting."

The Tuks athlete ascribes her continuous improvement to a passion for hurdles racing.

"I love it. I don't consider myself a 100m-hurdler or a 400m-hurdler. I am a hurdler. Theoretically, running the 100m-hurdles will not make me a better 400m-hurdlers and vice versa. They are two completely different races. I am lucky that my training is good enough to do both."

As to rivalries, she said, "Personally, I don't mind who wins. All that matters is that we continue to be faster."

Bieldt graduated last year with an honours degree in psychology.