'I want race-walking to be loved and celebrated' - Lee Sue Nyathi targets success in 2025

Race-walking in South Africa is the least visible track event and attracts almost no sponsorship or scholarship opportunities and little media attention, but young Lee Sue Nyathi is looking to use her status as a champion race-walker to raise its profile in the country. For Nyathi, who became an elite race-walker thanks to Coach Thabiso Tsagane, race-walking is a sport that moves fast but seems slow. And despite often being mocked and misunderstood, it's more than just a stroll.

"I want to help race-walking to be recognised in SA. I want it to be a sport that's seen, celebrated and loved like any other discipline in athletics," she told #TheTopRunner. "I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing. Hopefully, my achievements speak for themselves and I will be recognised, which will in turn help elevate race-walking. I hope that's what happens in future."

Nyathi has started the 2025 season well and is targeting more success for the year ahead. Photo Credit: Lebohang Pita.

The Masai Athletic Club walker is an eight-time national champion, with several titles in in different events and different age-groups, the most prestigious of which are the U20 10 000m gold achieved at last year's ASA Age Group Track & Field Championships at the Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane and the U20 10km title she won at the 2024 SA Race-Walking championships at the Youngsfield Military Base in Cape Town.

The 17-year old Queen's High School Grade 12 learner is targeting more success this year. Her ambitions include clinching her ninth national title and bettering her personal bests in the 5000m and 10 000m on the track as well as 10km on the road. "I've been training hard. I'm also trying to keep my mental health safe because I'm in Matric. I need to stay as focused as possible on my academics and sports. This year, I hope to excel."

Nyathi has already represented South Africa on a number of occassions. Here she is pictured at the OR Tambo International Airport before jetting off to the 2023 African U18 and U20 Combined Championships in Zambia. Photo Credit: Queens High School.

Nyathi who hails from the Ekurhuleni township of Kwa-Thema currently leads the CGA race-walking league standings in the women's U20 5000m with a season's best 28:07.18 which is more than two minutes slower than the lifetime best produced in 2023. But although she's not yet at her peak, Nyathi is confident she will soon hit her stride and better her 25:30.46 5000m PB and the 10km best of 51:50 from last year's World Athletics Race-Walking Championships in Turkey.

"I'm planning to go faster than before, break my PB's and potentially win the SA champs for the ninth time. I want to better my 10km time. It's only my first real year competing in that distance. Last year was a test and I did well. This year, I'm doing it in my age group, so I have to do well," she explained.