The gold medal the South African men's 4x100m relay team won at the World Relay Championships in Poland is the start of things to come. More SA teams will medal in the future.

Athletics South Africa (ASA) relay team manager, Danie Cornelius, who is the Head of Programme at TuksAthletics is the one to make the bold prediction. 

"This is without the most professional group of athletes I have ever had the privilege to work with. From day one, we were one team with one goal. That is to be the best we can, to win a medal and qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games. It is mission accomplished," explains Cornelius.

"We had three teams at the World Relay Championships. The men's 4x100m-relay won gold. Their performance is a first for South African athletics. The men's 4x400m relay team qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and finished fifth in the final. Our 4x400m mixed relay team set a South African record (3:19.18).

"What excited me was the camaraderie. Emile Erasmus was only a reserve for the men's 4x100m relay team. He did not get to run, but on Sunday, the moment Akani Simbine sprinted across the finish line to secure the gold medal, he was ecstatic. His team had won. It was all that mattered.

"Our performance in the 4x100m relay was far from faultless. Mistakes were made, and still, we won. Just imagine what can happen the day the team executes the perfect race. Nobody is going to beat South Africa even if they got athletes, the likes of Usain Bolt in their team."

He could not resist joking it was the first time a University team won gold at the World Relay Championships. All five of the 4x100m-relay athletes are based at Tuks, as is Paul Gorries, the national relay coach.

Cornelius continued saying that at first, the 4x400m team's only goal was to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. 

"But they surprised everyone truly stepping up. It could be reasoned that it is sad that the 4x400m team missed out on not medalling. The reality is that a year ago, we would have been happy with a fifth-place finish in a world championship final. 

"What changed is the attitude of our athletes. They believed they were good enough, and they went for it. That is the type of athletes you want running for South Africa-athletes who are not scared to put their bodies on the line." 

According to Cornelius, it is Gorries who making the difference. 

"Paul has got a way to get athletes to believe nothing is impossible and that it should always be what is best for the team. Aleck Skhosana also deserves credit. He initiated the partnership between TuksSport and ASA to help national teams prepare for major championships. It makes sense as most of South Africa's top sprinters are at Tuks. It is easier to have regular camps working on the small things that end up making a difference between winning and losing."