Bayanda Walaza clocked 9.99s in the 100m. With personal bests of 9.94s in the 100m and 20.08s in the 200m, the South African sprinter is emerging as a serious challenger to Noah Lyles. At just 19, Walaza knows what lies ahead — hard work and focus.

Recently, he joined two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Colin Jackson on the Go Wild Podcast, where he spoke about his ambitions for the next five years. “Truly speaking, I want to be the greatest sprinter that the world has ever seen,” he said. “You know, the sprinter that actually leaves a reminder behind.” Walaza dreams of leaving a legacy that will be remembered long after he leaves the track.

His focus, however, extends beyond personal success. Walaza wants to inspire young athletes across Africa to believe in their talent and in their homeland. “I just want to inspire the kids in Africa,” he said. “Believe in your country, trust your coaches, and everything will be proper.”

Joining the Puma family has brought him closer to his idol, Usain Bolt — someone he once viewed as untouchable. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “Me being here in this family made me believe that there’s nothing impossible. That Usain Bolt you used to see on TV beating people — you can actually see him in person now.”

Although an injury at the 2025 World Championships halted his progress, Walaza’s potential continues to draw comparisons with Noah Lyles — something he has mixed feelings about.

Bayanda Walaza takes a strong stance on being compared to Noah Lyles

The teenage sensation isn’t fond of comparisons, even with a star like Lyles. “Truly speaking, it hurts because people usually speak bad,” he admitted. “But I’ve learned that you need to use bad to be good. You need to use it for good because my running style is what I’m also focusing on changing.”

Walaza embraces his distinctive running style — marked by a visible head bob — as part of his identity. “It’s what makes me Bayanda Walaza because everyone notices me everywhere I go,” he said. That individuality helped him win an Olympic silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics.

He also draws inspiration from fellow African sprinters Letsile Tebogo and Gift Leotlela, who, he says, taught him persistence. “Tebogo doesn’t care about what people have to say — he does what he feels is right,” Walaza shared.

As one of the brightest young sprinters on the scene, Bayanda Walaza represents the next generation of African sprinting excellence — and he may well be the one to challenge Tebogo and Lyles in the years ahead.