South Africa launched its African Athletics Championships campaign in the best possible fashion in Accra, Ghana, with 21-year-old Aiden Smith winning the very first gold medal of the entire meet in the men’s shot put.
Smith, a University of Johannesburg student, sent his implement out to 20.01m to top the podium, setting an early tone for the South African team at the 24th edition of the continental showpiece.
His victory was soon followed by further golden moments for the country, as teammates Collette Uys and Olympic silver medallist Luvo Manyonga added their own continental titles in Accra.
Smith leads from the front
For Smith, the win marked his first African Championships gold, adding a continental crown to a growing collection of honours. The 21-year-old arrived in Accra as the reigning World University Games champion, and he delivered when it mattered most.
By being the first South African on the podium and the first athlete to win gold at the championships, Smith handed the national team a confidence-boosting start to the meet.
Uys completes shot put double
South Africa’s strength in the shot put circle was not limited to the men’s event. Collette Uys claimed the women’s shot put title with a throw of 17.63m, ensuring the country celebrated success in both versions of the discipline.
The result underlined a productive period for South African throwers on the continental stage, with two gold medals secured in the shot put alone.
Manyonga’s comeback continues
One of the standout stories of the championships was the continued resurgence of long jumper Luvo Manyonga. The 35-year-old, an Olympic silver medallist, soared to 8.15m with his opening leap to win the men’s long jump.
Remarkably, the title was Manyonga’s first African Championships gold, a milestone achievement that capped his return to the top of the podium on the continental stage.
His opening-jump victory added to the sense of momentum building around the South African squad in Accra.
A strong opening in Accra
The 24th African Championships in Athletics were staged in Accra, Ghana, from 12 to 17 May 2026, bringing together the continent’s leading athletes across track and field disciplines.
With gold medals from Smith, Uys and Manyonga among the early highlights, South Africa established an encouraging foundation for its campaign at the championships.
The performances of the throwers and Manyonga’s long jump triumph offered a positive snapshot of South African athletics talent, blending the rise of a young champion in Smith with the experience of an established star in Manyonga.
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