Akani Simbine and his Olympic silver medal band led South Africa to a stellar performance at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China on Sunday, securing two gold medals and a bronze. The men’s 4x100m victory kick-started the night, followed by the men’s 4x400m team, which included two schoolboys and experienced Zakithi Nene, winning in a world-leading time of 2 minutes 57.50 seconds. Zeney Geldenhuys anchored the women’s 4x400m team to a bronze medal with a national record of 3:24.84.

Despite previously downplaying relays, South Africa sent four teams to the event, all of which qualified for the world championships in Tokyo later in the year, with three making it to the podium. While South Africa has a history of relay medals, this was the first time they secured three at a global competition.

The 4x100m relay almost began in disaster when Bayanda Walaza, the under-20 world 100m and 200m champion, was initially flagged for a false start. Despite Walaza's disqualification for the same offense at the national championships, a green flag provided a reprieve. Walaza, running in lane eight, seized the opportunity, followed by solid performances from Sinesipho Dambile and Bradley Nkoana. Simbine, running the anchor leg, overtook American Brandon Hicklin just before the finish line, clocking a world-leading 37.61 seconds to win by five-hundredths of a second. Canada, the Olympic champions, finished third in 38.11 seconds.

Simbine's performance echoed his effort at the 2021 World Relays in Poland, where the team's gold medal was later revoked due to a doping violation by Thando Dlodlo. Determined to make amends, Simbine ensured South Africa wouldn't miss out on gold this time.

The men’s 4x400m team, after finishing as runners-up last year, claimed the top spot on the podium. Gardeo Isaacs ran the first lap in 45.39 seconds, followed by Udeme Okon, the 2024 under-20 world 400m champion, who delivered a 44.24-second second lap. Leendert Koekemoer, the youngest team member at 17, pulled the team into the lead with a 44.23-second leg, while Nene closed it out with an impressive 43.64 seconds.

In the women’s 4x400m relay, Shirley Nekhuibui started, handing off to Miranda Coetzee and Precious Molepo before Zeney van der Walt secured a historic bronze medal, finishing just 12-hundredths behind the United States. The South African mixed 4x400m team finished fifth in their final with a time of 3:16.29.

Other notable events from the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 included Canada winning the first 4x100 Metres Relay Mixed Gold medal, Spain setting a national record in the 4x400 Metres Relay Mixed World Championship Qualifying Round 2, and Kenya earning a bronze in the 4x400 Metres Relay Mixed Final.

Several African teams, including Uganda, Botswana, and Zambia, missed out on qualifying for Tokyo in various relay events. Kenya was disqualified in the Women's 4x400 Metres Relay due to a rule violation, and Zimbabwe suffered the same fate in the Men's 4x400 Metres Relay. Ghana and Kenya secured spots for Tokyo in the 4x100 Metres Relay Men, while Botswana will have to wait for Tokyo qualification.

With these performances, South Africa hopes to end their eight-year world championship medal drought at the upcoming event in Japan in September.