TuksSport High School learner-athlete, Njabulo Mbatha of TuksAthletics Academy, capped a brilliant season when he formed part of South Africa's 4x400m men’s relay team and won a silver medal at the World Athletics U-20 Championships in Lima, Peru. South Africa ran a season-best in the final, clocking 3:05.22. The Americans won in a time of 3:03.56.

What made the 17-year-old’s performance special is that two hours before the relay final, he competed in the 400m-hurdles final. He missed out by 0.07s on winning the bronze medal. Mbatha finished fourth in a time of 49.68. Vance Nillson (USA) won by running 49.26s. 

Mbatha made South African sports history on his birthday (19 April) during the 2024 South African Track & Field Championships, when he won bronze in the 400m-hurdles final. On the day, he turned 17 and became the youngest South African athlete to have medalled in a senior 400m-hurdles final. His time of 49.57 is one of the top five fastest in the world by an under-18 and under-20 athlete this season.

The ACE Trust-sponsored athlete is also the South African under-18 400m-hurdles champion. Mbatha's winning time was 49.10s. He can boast of not losing one race locally in the age group's longer hurdles event this season. 

Despite these fast times, Mbatha was realistic about what might happen at the World Athletics Champs. 

"I never think about rankings. The only thing that matters when I race is to be focused on my race. To execute my technique to perfection. My best traits as a hurdler are my speed, endurance, and ability to switch legs during a race. I can lead with both legs over the hurdles and not lose speed. It is a huge advantage coming into the home straight."

Mbatha discloses that rugby was his first passion. 

"When I was in high school in Durban, I was a keen rugby player. I played as a winger. I did athletics to improve my speed for rugby. It helped because I got selected for the Sharks under-15 Rising Stars team. What decided things for me in the end was that I was starting to win more and more races. So, I chose athletics as my sport, but I believe if chose to I could have excelled in both athletics and rugby. 

"I still watch a lot of rugby, but I am not a fan of any specific team. I enjoy good rugby. It does not matter who plays.

The TuksSport High School learner-athlete looks up to the Olympian Zakithi Nene as his role model. 

"Despite being an Olympic 4x400m-relay finalist, he is so humble. Whenever I need advice, I reach out to him on Instagram. Each time, he would reply. I also admire my coach, Adri Schoeman, for what she has achieved as a 400-metre athlete."

In a season when competing, Mbatha's favourite pastime is sleeping. 

"I believe that when you sleep, you give your body time to recover. Out of season, I love to play basketball with my friends."