'You're only as good as your next race' - Lythe Pillay wins World University Games gold

To his World Junior title and World Relays gold  medal, Lythe Pillay has added the World University Games crown. The 22-year-old clocked 44.84 seconds to claim the men's 400m title at the FISU World University Games in Germany yesterday (23 July). Running a season’s best to win the gold medal after a slow start to the season which was hampered by injury, is the sweetest reward for Pillay who also secured a World Championships qualification time by dipping under the 44.85 qualification standard.

"My coach's preparations have been key. My physio Robin, my gym instructor as well as my mom and uncle who have always been there to support me. I feel like I have a good system around me. I'm confident in my environment and the people around me who are working with me. We anticipated peaking at this time because we knew that the time to perform would be right around now," he told #TheTopRunner.

Pillay celebrates gold in Germany. Photo Credit: USSA Media.

That he was able to deliver his best one lap effort of the 2025 season, the BComm Accounting Student thanks the University of Johannesburg for the support they have given him since he first enrolled there in 2023. Challenged by the excessive travel demands of a burgeoning track and field career which has thus far included a maiden Olympic appearance at #Paris2024 and numerous Diamond League race during the European summer, Pillay was forced to change his field to study to accommodate his competitions around the world.

"Luckily it's online so when I travel I'm able to keep up with my work. As long as I have a quiet environment, then I’m fine. It worked out far better than the BSc I attempted in my first year because while I was away I kept on missing practicals. Thankfully UJ have always been there to support me and help where they can, which is added relief when competing."

Pillay celebrating a new PB which he ran on the way to winning the 2024 ASA Senior Track & Field Championships 400m title in 2024. Photo Credit: Supplied.

The support he has enjoyed from UJ was evident in his imperious performance in the German city of Bochum as he finished more than half a second ahead of silver medalist Patrick Enyingi (45.41s) and bronze medalist Edoardo Scotti (45.61s), signals the 2024 SA Champion’s return to something close to his best form. But after being eliminated during the semi-finals in Paris, the man from Benoni who is the holder of a 44.31 lifetime best, says yesterday's performance will not count for nothing if he can’t go all the way at the World Championships in Tokyo (13-21 September).

"I pretty much tell myself to absorb it in the moment, but ultimately I always believe that you are only as good as your next race. As much as I've run well today, it’ll mean nothing if I can't replicate that or stay consistent tomorrow. So the whole thing is about keeping level headed, keeping my feet on the ground and staying consistent and sticking to our plan."