By Godfrey Komane
One of South Africa’s fastest rising middle-distance stars, Realeboga Smith is not just a talented athlete. He also has lofty ambitions off the track.
A matric pupil at Curro Hazeldean, Smith is eager to shine in the junior age group this year, but he also hopes to perform academically so he can follow his tertiary ambitions.
Smith, an 18-year-old athlete from Kagiso in Krugersdorp, started participating in athletics in 2019 when he was a learner at Kid Maponya Primary School.
He then joined the Kagiso Striders club and qualified to compete at the SA Cross Country Championships where he participated in the U-13 boys 4km race, finishing in fifth position.
That was the beginning of his career, and Smith has since gone from strength to strength.
Cross country star
In 2021 he joined the Nedbank Running Club and went on to win multiple national cross country titles.
Last year he finished second in the U20 race at the SA Cross Country Championships, and he went on to represent South Africa at the World Cross Country Championships in Gqeberha.
Opening his 2025 season last week, at the Affies Wildeklawer Invitational meeting at Tuks, he settled for second place in the U19 boys 1 500m race in 4:00.19.
“The race was just OK. I did not expect much from it so I am happy with the results,” Smith said afterwards.
He later returned to the track with force, however, outclassing his opponents to win the 800m race in 1:52.92 after launching a furious kick to edge out his opposition in a late sprint for the line.
Pocket rocket
Smith, who is coached by Godfrey Makwasa, is half the size of some of the opponents in his age group, but what he lacks in physical stature he makes up for with phenomenal talent and sheer determination.
And as well as he has done thus far, he hopes to take further steps forward this year, both on and off the track.
“My goal for 2025 is to be in the top three U20 men in the 5 000m race at the ASA Championships, and to pass matric with good marks so that I can study sports management.”
* Featured image of Realeboga Smith by Cecilia van Bers
That’s very incouraging to see young stars to start realize their dream very earlier ❤️❤️❤️
I hope you reach all your goals in this field, wishing you all the best.
Well done Realeboga continue doing the great work all the best on your athletics journey💪🏆🎉
He is such an inspiration to the up coming athletes,wish he continues doing a great job.
Well Done!
Keep it up
Impressive to read about such a talented young man, a hardworking, dedicated, ambitious and focused young man, great effort, he is inspiring others, may all the effort of the young man be recognized, I hope and believe one day will see him on these big screens conquering and achieving his dreams.
Thank you very much for the article, you did the great job let it be recognized and be fruitful for our athlete. Keep on and on doing the great job….may that man upstairs (God) bless you with wisdom and everlasting life to write more and more articles. I thank you.