Teboho Setena
The superb performance of Mthi Mthimkulu (22) while representing South Africa in the 400m relay at the World Athletics Relay in Guangzhou, China, has earned him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
This middle-distance runner from the Free State has received an invitation from Gemona del Friuli to compete in a series of competitions in Italy.
Mthimkulu will be staying in Gemona from 15 June until 15 August and is set return to home thereafter.
The athlete attracted international interest after an impressive showing at the World Athletics Relay on 10 and 11 May.
In the men’s 4 x 400m relay Mthimkulu and his teammates Udeme Okon, Lythe Pillay, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene, won their heat in 3:00.00. This was the fastest time in the world this year and the fastest qualifiers. The team went on to win gold.
Mthimkulu’s invitation comes at the perfect time to enable him to sharpen for the forthcoming 2025 Tokyo World Championships. Runner aims even higher despite reaching great heights The global event will be held from 13 to 21 September, featuring more than 2 000 athletes from some 200 countries.
Competing in Europe benefits an athlete in several ways.
During this time of the year, Europe transitions from spring to summer, which is the beginning of the European local athletics season, while South Africa on the other hand transitions from autumn to winter, when the local athletics season ends.
Mthimkulu said he would also be seizing the golden opportunity to compete in Europe in the next three months.
However, insufficient funds to cover the costs during the three-month period stands in his way.
“I have organised my flight tickets and visa.
“But I desperately need to supplement my funding to cover the cost of accommodation and logistics within Europe.”
Mthimkulu is no stranger to competing internationally and doing well.
He has represented South Africa in the following international competitions:
■ the World Athletics U20 competition 2022 in Colombia;
■ the World Athletics Relay in the Bahamas in 2024; and
■ he was furthermore a semifinalist at the African championship 400m staged in Cameroon and won a gold medal at the same event with the South African 4 x 400m mixed relay team.
Mthimkhulu, a student at the University of the Free State (UFS), won the 400m race with a personal best of 45.76 seconds at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Grand Prix tournament.
He has won the Free State 400m championship title a full seven times: consecutively, from 2018 to 2024.
