South Africa’s Athletics Stars Ready for World Athletics Ultimate Championship

Posted : 10 September 2026

South Africa will send six athletes into action at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, with three of them beginning their campaigns on Friday. The event runs from September 11 to 13 and brings together the world's leading athletes across 28 disciplines, with a record $10 million prize fund available.

Zakithi Nene will represent South Africa in the men's 400m, while Marione Fourie will compete in the women's 100m hurdles and Prudence Sekgodiso will contest the women's 800m. All three are scheduled to compete during the opening day of the championship.

Nene enters the competition as one of the leading names in the 400m field. The South African is ranked second in the world for the event, according to World Athletics, and will face a strong line-up that includes Botswana's world champion Collen Kebinatshipi and Olympic silver medallist Rai Benjamin.

Sekgodiso will also face an elite field in the 800m, with Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson and world leader Audrey Werro among the leading contenders. The South African is currently ranked inside the world's top 10 and owns a 2026 best of 1:56.83.

Fourie will compete in the women's 100m hurdles, with the semifinal and final both scheduled for Friday. Her appearance gives South Africa an early opportunity to challenge for a place in one of the championship's opening finals.

The remaining three South Africans will enter the competition over the weekend. Gift Leotlela and Akani Simbine are scheduled for the men's 100m on Saturday, while Sinesipho Dambile will contest the men's 200m on Sunday.

Dambile arrives in Budapest in strong form after producing a lifetime-best 19.74 in Doha earlier this year and following it with a Commonwealth title. He also finished runner-up to Kenneth Bednarek in the Diamond League Final and is one of 16 athletes entered in a highly competitive 200m field.

The Ultimate Championship has been designed as a compact, high-intensity season finale, with track events moving quickly from semifinals to finals and field events contested as straight finals. Athletes are competing for individual titles and a share of the biggest prize pool in track and field history.

South Africa’s Ultimate Championship Schedule

Friday, September 11

7:19pm — Men's 400m semifinals: Zakithi Nene
8:57pm — Women's 800m semifinals: Prudence Sekgodiso
9:04pm — Women's 100m hurdles semifinals: Marione Fourie
9:20pm — Women's 100m hurdles final: Marione Fourie

Saturday, September 12

6:18pm — Men's 400m final: Zakithi Nene
7:21pm — Men's 100m semifinals: Gift Leotlela, Akani Simbine
8:18pm — Women's 800m final: Prudence Sekgodiso
8:49pm — Men's 100m final: Gift Leotlela, Akani Simbine

Sunday, September 13

6:18pm — Men's 200m semifinals: Sinesipho Dambile
8:38pm — Men's 200m final: Sinesipho Dambile

South Africa’s Athletics Stars Ready for World Athletics Ultimate Championship

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