Prudence Sekgodiso was next on the Nanjing track on Sunday in the 800m final, and after her appearance in the 2024 Olympic final, she showed that she has taken another significant step forward by claiming gold in the indoor champs in a new SA record of 1:58.40.

It was an important hurdle to cross for the 23-year-old from Limpopo, as she may have been a bit disappointed by coming eighth in the Olympic final.

Sekgodiso had hoped to push for a medal in Paris, but finished in 1:58.79 – well short of her personal best of 1:57.26, which would’ve secured a bronze medal ahead of third-place Kenyan Mary Moraa, who clocked 1:57.42.

But for both Simbine and Sekgodiso – who got a warm welcome at the OR Tambo Airport on Tuesday – having come through the wringer of a world indoor championship with medals will give them real confidence that they can reach the podium in the outdoor version in Tokyo in September.

Sekgodiso will need to break through the 1:56 barrier to be in with any chance of toppling Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson of Britain, whose personal best stands at an outstanding 1:54.61.

For Simbine, his vast experience and well-documented near-misses in major finals will be all the motivation he needs to get past the likes of Olympic champion Noah Lyles, and fellow medallists Kishane Thompson and Fred Kerley.

Simbine is chasing that 9.7 time, having clocked an SA-record 9.82 in the Olympic final, and he will have the next few months to hone his finish and get his timing just right to shine in Tokyo. And there are a few outside bets for SA medals at the world champs as well. Marioné Fourie has had a sparkling start to her local season in the 100m hurdles, and she ran 12.69 for a world-lead effort just last week.

Don’t count out Adriaan Wildschutt in the 5 000m and 10 000m either, having finished 10th in the longer distance at the Paris Olympics.

Van Dyk will hope to get her season going soon to back up her javelin silver medal from last year, and of course, the men’s 4x100m relay team will also go for gold in Tokyo. So, 2025 is shaping up to finally being the year of glory for SA athletics.

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Celebrating South African glory: Sekgodiso and Simbine's triumphs at the world indoor championships