Tlotliso Gift Leotlela’ s Instagram handle says it all: @ GiftofSpeed. Speed he has in spades, but it’ s his injury-prone body – and perhaps a bit of luck – that haven’ t always been on his side.
Leotlela is one of the fastest men in the country, but his journey to the top has been shaped as much by setbacks as by success. As he prepares to defend his national 100m title at the South African National Athletics Championships in Stellenbosch from 17 – 19 April, Leotlela, who represented the country at the Rio Olympics as a teenager, does so as one of the sport’ s most resilient figures.
His injuries have come at some of the worst possible times. At the Tokyo Olympic Games, Leotlela looked set to make a major breakthrough, reaching the semi-finals of the 100m. But a grade-two hamstring tear abruptly ended his individual campaign and ruled him out of the relay.
Injuries would continue to interrupt his momentum in the years that followed, including a career-threatening setback in 2023 that cast serious doubt over whether he would return to elite sprinting at all.
But, after battling back and a largely trouble-free 2025, which featured a new 100m personal best of 9.87 seconds achieved in the heats of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he finished fifth in the final, Leotlela is approaching 2026 with renewed confidence and the belief that his best is still ahead.
“ The off-season has been really good. We focused a lot on building strength and sharpening the small details in my sprinting. I’ ve had a solid preparation and I’ m feeling strong and confident. At this point you just want to get out there and start racing again,” said the Pretoria-based sprinter, who has used his unwanted time away from the track to learn more about himself.
“ My journey has definitely had a few ups and downs, but that’ s part of sport. The key for me has been staying patient and trusting the work we’ re doing with my coach and support team. Every season you learn more about your body and about yourself as an athlete, and I feel like those experiences have helped me grow a lot.”
Sprinters are not always associated with patience, but for Leotlela it has been essential. Progress has come in increments, often after periods of frustration and doubt.
“ In difficult moments every athlete has doubts, but I always believed my time would come again if I stayed focused. What helped me the most was the people around me – my coach, my family and my team. They kept reminding me why I started and helped me keep moving forward.”
That support system extends into his training environment, where he works under coach Thabo Matebedi in a highly competitive group that includes double world junior champion and Olympic relay silver medallist Bayanda Walaza and fellow world championship finalist Sinesipho Dambile.
“ I train with a very strong group and that pushes me every day. When you’ re surrounded by athletes who are also chasing big goals, the level at training is always high. We motivate each other, we compete in training and that really helps prepare you for racing,” he explained.
The rewards for that persistence came into sharp focus at last year’ s national championships in Potchefstroom. There, Leotlela ran a wind-assisted 9.95 seconds in the heats before winning his first national title in 9.99, a defining moment after years of stop-start progress.
“ That moment meant a lot to me. Standing on the start line already felt special, and when I crossed the line first it was just a mix of relief, happiness and pride. It reminded me that all the work behind the scenes was worth it.”
The pride was even greater when he went even faster at the World Championships in Japan five months later.
“ That race gave me a lot of belief. Running a personal best on a stage like that shows you that you belong there with the best athletes in the world. It definitely gave me confidence going forward.”
No longer just a promising sprinter fighting his way back, Leotlela has now re-established himself as a genuine contender. And attention turns to Stellenbosch and the challenge of defending his national 100m crown in what remains one of the most competitive events in the country. He’ ll not only be lining up against his training partners, but also potentially against the six-time champion in the event and national record holder, Akani Simbine.
FEATURE
“ Defending the national title is always important because the level in South African sprinting is very high right now. Every year the competition gets stronger, so you have to bring your best.”
Beyond April, there are no Olympic Games or World Championships this season, but Leotlela is hoping to feature at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this July and August.
“ Any major championship like the Commonwealth Games is always exciting for athletes, so that’ s definitely something I’ d like to be part of … The biggest goal is to keep improving and stay consistent throughout the season. I want to keep lowering my times and perform well at the major championships,” explained the Phuthaditjhaba-born star, who admits that away from the track speed is far less of a priority.
“ On the track everything is about speed, but off the track I’ m actually quite chilled. I like to relax, spend time with family and just enjoy normal things. I save the speed for the track.”
That speed will soon be put to the test, and, ominously for his rivals, the 27-year-old believes there’ s plenty more to come.
“ I definitely believe there’ s still more in me. Sprinting is about improving little by little each season and I feel like I’ m still developing. If I keep working hard and stay healthy, I believe there are faster times ahead.”
www. modernathlete. co. za 11