He came, he saw, he conquered. Lucky Moleyane is back on home soil after reaching new heights in Malawi.
The star athlete achieved the feat of winning triple gold at the 2022 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games, hosted in Lilongwe from 2 to 12 December.
The Bloemfontein sprinter was one of the 209 athletes in the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) squad who represented their country in Malawi.
Lucky (19) collected two individual medals after winning the 100 m and the 200 m. He was unchallenged in both sprinting events as he stormed to victory at personal best times: 10.12 in the 100 m and 20.88 in the 200 m.
His closest contender was Zambian sprinter Sitali Kakena, who settled for silver in both adrenaline-pumping events.
Lucky’s superb form at the Region 5 Youth Games furthermore helped to propel the South African 4 x 100 m men’s relay team to win gold in 40.72.
Team South Africa finished top of the medal table, with 113 in total – 60 of them gold.
Lucky’s achievement comes in the wake of setbacks due to a hamstring injury that sidelined him from competing at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Grand Prix earlier in 2022.
Elinda Vorster, his trainer, is delighted with his achievement.
“We had a rough start to the year, but at the end of the day everything has come together, with top world-class times in his age group.
“We are looking forward to the new chapter in his life: his senior career.
“I’m very proud of what he achieved and his positive attitude to continue after setbacks this year.”
Vorster maintains Lucky’s superb performance on the international stage is his reward for good work ethic, thorough preparation and dedication.
His achievement follows last year’s success at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Kenya. He was in the South African boys’ relay team that set a world record of 38.51 in the 4 x 100 m. The other team members were Mihlali Xhotyeni, Sinesipho Dambile and Benjamin Richardson.
Lucky had his first taste of setting records as a learner blazing a trail at Grey College in Bloemfontein. In 2019 he bettered two of the school’s long-standing records, set in the 200 m and 100 m by Ian Small-Smith and Pierre Swart. Lucky ran the 100 m in 10.60 and the 200 m in 21.49, smashing records that had stood for 36 years.
Despite no luck in securing sponsorship in South Africa, Vorster stated that the focus was on international championships that include the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
