'It's just the beginning' - Koekemoer introduces himself to the world

Praised for his storming third leg that put South Africa in a winning position, Leendert Koekemoer has become an overnight star after his exploits at the World Athletics Relays. Running alongside former SA Champion Gardeo Isaacs, World U20 Champion Udeme Okon and Olympic semi-finalist and Diamond League race winner Zakithi Nene, Koekemoer was the youngest member of the men's 4x400m squad that delivered a scintillating 2:57.50 National Record and World Lead to win the gold medal at the competition which took place in Guangzhou, China from 10-11 May.

Koekemoer hands the baton to Nene after a running a storming leg in the men's 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Relays. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I'm very proud to be here," he told #TheTopRunner. "I'm very happy and I'm so grateful that they put me in the this team with all these other wonderful athletes. I don't think other countries can match our mindset or depth. It's a wonderful privilege for me to me here as the youngest member of the team."

The 17-year-old Helpmekaar Kollege matric learner who trains alongside 2022 World Junior Champion and Olympian Lythe Pillay under coach Lindi du Plessis has enjoyed a groundbreaking 2025. This season, the man born in the year 2007, has run inside 46 seconds for one lap of the track four times, including a lifetime best 45.03 on the way to reaching the final at the SA Senior track and Field Championships. That brave run in Potchefstroom leaves Koekemoer as the third fastest U20 400m athlete in the world this year, a performance for which he gives his coach the credit.

Koekemoer representing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Senior Track and Field Championships where he produced a personal best 45.03 in the semi-final before taking fifth place in the final which was won by Zakithi Nene. Photo Credit: CGA Media.

"It's my coach who makes sure that I remain consistent and peak at the right time. I think SA Seniors was the right time for me to peak because I haven’t been running that much," he said of the run that saw him break Riaan Dempers' SA U20 400m record of 45.15 which had stood since May 1994.

Having already written himself into the history books at the country’s fastest U20 400m athlete of all time, the man who hails from Dalview in Brakpan has also booked his ticket to the World Championships in Japan in September as part of the men’s 4x400m relay team. But he is also not that far from the 44,85 required to qualify for the individual 400m.

Koekemoer, Nene, Isaacs and Okon celebrate gold and a new SA 4x400m record. They also qualified for the World Championships which take place in Tokyo, Japan in September. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I'm going to Italy during my school holiday to try and drop my times. But my main focus at the moment is just to enjoy running. I don't have to go to Worlds to prove anything. I've already proven my point. At the end of the day they can compare as much as they want, but I'm Leendert. On the track I'm going to be Leendert. The time next to my name is mine. It's just the beginning and I’m gonna get faster in the future."