Retshidisitswe Mlenga

Retshidisitswe Mlenga
Personal information
Born (2000-02-27) 27 February 2000
Sport
SportAthletics
EventSprint
University teamUniversity of Johannesburg
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  South Africa
Summer World University Games
Silver medal – second place 2025 Bochum 4×100 m relay
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Nairobi 200m
Silver medal – second place 2017 Nairobi 100m
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Nairobi 4×100 m relay

Retshidisitswe Mlenga (born 27 February 2000) is a South African track and field sprinter who competes in the 100 metres and 200 metres. He holds a personal best of 9.99 seconds for the 100 m and 20.79 seconds for the 200 m. He was the gold medalist in the 200 m at the IAAF World U18 Championships in 2017.

Career

Mlenga won the South African high school titles in the 100 and 200 m in 2016, then was runner-up in those events at the South African junior championships, setting new bests of 10.45 and 20.96 seconds, respectively. The following year he returned and won both titles at the South African junior meet, earning himself a place on the international team for the 2017 World U18 Championships in Athletics.[1] He was among the favourites to win the 100 m event but was beaten by compatriot Tshenolo Lemao by 0.04 seconds.[2] The pair again took the top two spots on the podium in the 200 m, with Mlenga winning to become the last world youth champion in the event (the championships was in its final iteration).[3] His third and final medal of the tournament came in the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay where, alongside teammate Gontse Morake and 400 m hurdles champions Zeney van der Walt and Sokwakhana Zazini, he finished third in the rankings.[4][5] Mlenga's performances helped South Africa to the top of the medal table, which was the nation's best ever performance at a global athletics championships.[6]

Mlenga won the 2018 African Southern Region junior title in the 100 m,[7] but was subsequently disqualified, having failed a drug test for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol at a meeting earlier in March that year. Mlenga received a four-year ban from the sport for the infraction.[8]

He was part of the team that won silver at the 4x100 m relay at the 2025 Summer World University Games.[9]

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2017 World U18 Championships Nairobi, Kenya 2nd 100 m 10.61
1st 200 m 21.03
3rd 4 × 400 m relay 3:24.45

See also

References

  1. ^ Retshidisitswe Mlenga. World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  2. ^ Wesley, Botton (2017-07-12). Report: boys' 100m – IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017. World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  3. ^ Wesley, Botton (2017-07-16). Report: boys' 200m – IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 . World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  4. ^ Report: mixed 4x400m – IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017. World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  5. ^ Jackowski, Pael (2017-07-16). Double delight for Kenya on final day of IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017. World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  6. ^ South Africa top medals table at Nairobi 2017 - IAAF World U18 Championships. Athletics Africa (2017-07-17). Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  7. ^ South Africa dominate regional U18 and U20 Championships - Day 1. Athletics Africa (2018-04-27). Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  8. ^ Ruling Mlenga. Drug Free Sport. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  9. ^ Contributor, Sport South Africa (27 July 2025). "South Africa Ends World University Games with Silver in Men's 4x100m Relay". South Africa Sports News and Blog Site | South Africa Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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