'If something's meant for you, it's meant for you' - comeback kid Mlenga to replace injured Walaza in SA World Champs relay team

If the name Retshidisitswe Mlenga has you scratching your head asking yourself where you’ve heard it before, that’s because the 25-year-old sprinter was one of South Africa’s most promising athletics talents. Mlenga was the World U18 200m champion, while he also won the silver medal over 100m at the same World U18 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya in 2017. But after struggling with injury and adjusting to the senior ranks, the Viljoenskroon born athlete disappeared for almost three years as his career was written off, only to return with a bang as he secured his first sub ten second clocking on 23 July.

Mlenga is grateful to be fit and ready to participate at his first senior World Championships event in Tokyo. Photo Credit: USSA Media.

"I'm just trying to show everybody that I'm back," he said reflecting on the 9.99 he clocked in Austria about six weeks ago. "It feels great even though I expected more. My coach told me before going to Europe that I was in shape for sub 10. So I was expecting something around 9.8 or 9.90 because that’s what we were training for. But being able to run 9.9 in Europe with a lot of travelling is very good. I’m just blessed."

For his comeback and his results during the 2025 season, Mlenga credits his support structure which comprises of his family and coach. Now based at the University of Johannesburg where he trains under coach Reneilwe Aphane alongside the likes of Tsebo Matsoso and reigning SA 400m hurdles champion Sabelo Dhlamini, the former Prestige College student has rediscovered the form that made hims one of the most exciting youth sprinters on earth.

Mlenga's 9.99 made him SA's fourth fastest 100m sprinter of 2025 behind Akani Simbine, Bayanda Walaza and Gift Leotlela. But Walaza's injury has opened the door for him to run in both the individual 100m and the 4x100m relay. Photo Credit: ASA Media.

"My family was there for me. My coach as well. Even when I wanted to quit they always told me that I can't give up what God has given me because some people wish they could be where I am. They told me to do what God has sent me to do. I wanna show everybody that it's possible if you put God first. Also, once you have a coach and a family that supports you, nothing can go wrong," he told #TheTopRunner.

And everything is going right for Mlenga, because although his 9.99 wasn't enough to see him earn qualification to compete in the individual 100m, it did earn him a spot in SA's strong men's 4x100m relay team. Departing for the World Championships on Wednesday 10 September, Mlenga headed to Tokyo, Japan as a reserve in the individual event and uncertain about his relay status. 

Running alongside Bayanda Walaza, Kyle Zinn and Mthi Mthimkhulu, Mlenga was part of SA's World University Games men's 4x100m relay team that won the silver medal in Germany in July. Photo Credit: USSA Media.

But just hours after taking off from the OR Tambo International Airport, Athletics South Africa (ASA) announced that the man who was part of the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) men's 4x100m relay team that won the national title in April, will replace the injured Bayanda Walaza and run alongside Shawn Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine at his maiden senior World Championships event.

"I'm just grateful to be here. I'm grateful to represent my country again. If the team needs me, I'm ready. I'm grateful to represent my family and do what God has sent me to do, which is to show my talent to everybody. I had one of the toughest journeys but honestly with God's plan, nobody can change it. If something's meant for you, it's meant for you."