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 10.37 seconds for the 100 m and 20.88 seconds for the 200 m. He was the gold medallist in the 200 m at the IAAF World U18 Championships in 2017.
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]
International competitions
edit| 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
editReferences
edit- ^ Retshidisitswe Mlenga. World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ Wesley, Botton (2017-07-12). Report: boys' 100m – IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017. World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ Wesley, Botton (2017-07-16). Report: boys' 200m – IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 . World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ Report: mixed 4x400m – IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017. World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ 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.
- ^ South Africa top medals table at Nairobi 2017 - IAAF World U18 Championships. Athletics Africa (2017-07-17). Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ South Africa dominate regional U18 and U20 Championships - Day 1. Athletics Africa (2018-04-27). Retrieved 2020-11-03.
- ^ Ruling Mlenga. Drug Free Sport. Retrieved 2020-11-03.